GERMINATION PROPERTIES OF SPORES WITH LOW DIPICOLINIC ACID CONTENT

Keynan, A. (University of Wisconsin, Madison), W. G. Murrell, and H. O. Halvorson. Germination properties of spores with low dipicolinic acid content. J. Bacteriol. 83:395-399. 1962.-When the dipicolinic acid content of spores of Bacillus cereus strain T is reduced from 7.5 to 2 or 3%, the spores germinate spontaneously after heat activation and are sluggish in their response to l-alanine and other germination agents. Only germination initiated by calcium dipicolinic acid is unaffected. l-Alanine-induced germination is stimulated by exogenous dipicolinic acid. These results support the hypothesis that endogenous dipicolinic acid regulates the l-alanine-triggered germination.