Spore lytic enzyme released from Clostridium perfringens spores during germination. 1979

Y Ando

The exudate of fully germinated spores of Clostridium perfringens was found to contain a large amount of a spore lytic enzyme which acted directly on alkali-treated spores of the organism to cause germination. Although no detectable amount of the enzyme was found in dormant spores during germination in a KCl medium, the enzyme was produced rapidly and released into the medium. The optimal conditions for enzyme activity were pH 6.0 and 45 degrees C. Maximum activity occurred in the presence of various univalent cations at a concentration of 50 mM. The enzyme was readily inactivated by several sulfhydryl reagents. A strong reducing condition was generated in the ionic germination of the spores, a minimum Eh level of -350 mV being reached 30 min after initiation of germination. Furthermore, adenosine triphosphate-dependent pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (EC 1.2.7.1) was identified in both dorman and germinated spores. The relationship between the release of active enzyme and the generation of reducing conditions during germination is discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010084 Oxidation-Reduction A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471). Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D002412 Cations Positively charged atoms, radicals or groups of atoms which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis. Cation
D003016 Clostridium perfringens The most common etiologic agent of GAS GANGRENE. It is differentiable into several distinct types based on the distribution of twelve different toxins. Clostridium welchii
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
D013439 Sulfhydryl Reagents Chemical agents that react with SH groups. This is a chemically diverse group that is used for a variety of purposes. Among these are enzyme inhibition, enzyme reactivation or protection, and labelling. SH-Reagents,Sulfhydryl Compound Antagonists,Sulfhydryl Compound Inhibitors,Thiol Reagents,Sulfhydryl Compounds Antagonists,Sulfhydryl Compounds Inhibitors,Antagonists, Sulfhydryl Compound,Antagonists, Sulfhydryl Compounds,Compound Antagonists, Sulfhydryl,Compound Inhibitors, Sulfhydryl,Inhibitors, Sulfhydryl Compound,Inhibitors, Sulfhydryl Compounds,Reagents, Sulfhydryl,Reagents, Thiol,SH Reagents
D013696 Temperature The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms. Temperatures

Related Publications

Y Ando
September 1981, Journal of general microbiology,
Y Ando
January 1987, Annales de l'Institut Pasteur. Microbiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!