Biomaterial Database

Decadent sporulation mutants of Bacillus subtilis. 1979

G Balassa, and P Milhaud, and J C Sousa, and M T Silva

In decadent sporulation mutants, sporulating populations are heterogeneous: the cells reach successive chemical and physical resistances with progressively decreasing frequencies. Each decadent mutant can be characterized by the shape and slope of the curve describing the frequency of cells resistant to various agents ('the resistance spectrum'). In some mutants the resistance spectrum decreases progressively from xylene resistance to heat resistance; in other mutants it decreases rapidly between octanol resistance and chloroform resistance. Electron microscopy showed that in two mutants the majority of the cells are blocked at stages III and IV; the number of cells that develop further to reach successive morphological stages falls off progressively. In two other mutants most cells reach stage V. Cortexless spores are also frequent. One of the decadent mutations, SpoL1, was localized between aroD and acf. The phenotype of decadent mutants is discussed in terms of sequential gene activation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D002874	Chromosome Mapping	Any method used for determining the location of and relative distances between genes on a chromosome.	Gene Mapping,Linkage Mapping,Genome Mapping,Chromosome Mappings,Gene Mappings,Genome Mappings,Linkage Mappings,Mapping, Chromosome,Mapping, Gene,Mapping, Genome,Mapping, Linkage,Mappings, Chromosome,Mappings, Gene,Mappings, Genome,Mappings, Linkage
D004352	Drug Resistance, Microbial	The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS).	Antibiotic Resistance,Antibiotic Resistance, Microbial,Antimicrobial Resistance, Drug,Antimicrobial Drug Resistance,Antimicrobial Drug Resistances,Antimicrobial Resistances, Drug,Drug Antimicrobial Resistance,Drug Antimicrobial Resistances,Drug Resistances, Microbial,Resistance, Antibiotic,Resistance, Drug Antimicrobial,Resistances, Drug Antimicrobial
D006358	Hot Temperature	Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm.	Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D001412	Bacillus subtilis	A species of gram-positive bacteria that is a common soil and water saprophyte.	Natto Bacteria,Bacillus subtilis (natto),Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto,Bacillus subtilis var. natto
D013171	Spores, Bacterial	Heat and stain resistant, metabolically inactive bodies formed within the vegetative cells of bacteria of the genera Bacillus and Clostridium.	Bacterial Spores,Bacterial Spore,Spore, Bacterial
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor