Cytochemical studies on alkaline phosphatase production during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis

Factors influencing the activity of cellular alkaline phosphatase during growth and sporulation of Bacillus cereus

Alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) is synthesized in media with a low phosphate concentration (0.37 mM of total and 19 microM of inorganic phosphate, respectively) already during the exponential phase of growth of Bacillus cereus. The enzyme is repressed by higher phosphate concentrations (3.7 mM) during the whole growth period; during sporogenesis the enzyme activity in cells slightly increases even under these conditions. During growth the enzyme is not secreted into the medium, a minor amount being released after cessation of growth. The enzyme activity can be increased by adding Zn2+ ions (10 microM). When during growth without phosphate the pH of the medium decreases below 5.0, the enzyme activity temporarily decreases and growth is slowed down, followed by a subsequent increase of the enzyme activity. In this case the onset of sporulation is also delayed.

Alcohol-resistant sporulation mutants of Bacillus subtilis

About 80% of Bacillus subtilis cells form spores when grown in nutrient broth. In medium containing various short-chain aliphatic alcohols, the frequency of sporulation was reduced to 0.5%. Mutants sporulated in the presence of alcohols at a frequency of 30 to 40%. Sporulation in the wild-type cells was sensitive to alcohol at the beginning of sporulation (stage zero). Sensitivity to alcohol in the mutants was also at stage zero, even though the sensitivity was considerably reduced. This sensitivity of sporulation to alcohol is the phenotypic expression of a genetic locus designated ssa. Mutations at this locus lead to a decreased sensitivity of sporulation to alcohol without modifying the sensitivity of growth. Genetic analysis by transduction was bacteriophage PBS1 revealed that ssa mutations are near the previously described spo0A locus. ssa mutants also differ from wild-type cells in the composition of membrane phospholipids. The relative amount of phosphatidylglycerol increased, whereas the relative amount of phosphatidylethanolamine and lysylphosphatidylglycerol decreased relative to the proportions in the wild type. The distribution of fatty acids in membrane lipids is the same as in the wild type. No differential sensitivity of phospholipid metabolism to alcohol could be detected in the mutant. This work therefore reveals that the extensive, pleiotropic changes in the membranes of ssa mutants are the phenotypic reflection of alterations at a specific gene locus.

Electron-cytochemical localization of phospho(enol)pyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) in fungal cells

New cytochemical method, based on biochemical experiments, was elaborated for the ultrastructural localization of phospho(enol)pyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31). The procedure was used to study the saprophytic submerged mycelium of the ascomycetous fungus Claviceps purpurea Tul. producing clavine alkaloids. The pelleted mycelium was fixed in ice cold 3% glutaraldehyde in 50 mM cacodylate buffer pH 7.2 and washed repeatedly in the same cold buffer The reaction mixture contained 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 9.0, 10 mM phospho(enol)pyruvate, 30 mM sodium potassium tartrate, 3 mM Pb(NO3)2, 60 mM MgCl2 and 30 mM NaHCO3. Enzyme activity was localized in vacuoles, particularly inside lipid globules (spherosomes) and less frequently in membranous vesicles. Acetyl-CoA activated PEP-carboxylase both in cell free extracts and in the cytochemical staining. Aspartate inhibited the enzyme in the biochemical assay with coupled malate dehydrogenase system; the cytochemical reaction was not influenced, probably due to the interference of asparagine synthase (EC 6.3.1.1).

Spectinomycin-resistant mutants of Bacillus subtilis with altered sporulation properties

Spectinomycin-resistant mutants of Bacillus subtilis show three different types of alterations in sporulation ability. Class 1 mutants can both grow and sporulate in the presence of spectinomycin. Class 2 mutants can grow in the presence of spectinomycin, but are unable to sporulate in either the presence or absence of spectinomycin. Class 3 mutants have a conditional phenotype, and are able to sporulate in the absence of spectinomycin, but not in its presence. The ability of these strains to produce alkaline phosphatase, a biochemical marker for early sporulation events, is correlated with the ability to sporulate in the presence or absence of antibiotic. All of the spectinomycin-resistance mutations could be genetically linked to the cysA marker, and a mutational alteration of a protein of the 30S ribosomal subunit has been identified in one of the Class 3 strains (Spc 1-11). Fine-structure mapping of the spectinomycin resistance mutation of strain Spc 1-11 confirmed its location in the cluster of genes for ribosomal components on the B. subtilis genetic map. Genetic analysis indicated that the properties of the Class 1 and Class 2 mutants result from more than one mutation. The spectinomycin-resistance and altered sporulation properties of the two Class 3 mutants probably result from a single genetic lesion.

Genetic aspects of bacterial endospore formation

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