Effects of alpha- and beta-D-glucose on germination of spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551.

The effects of D-glucose anomers on the germination of dormant spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 were studied, alpha-D-Glucose (1 mM) slightly initiated the germination of the dormant spores during 10 min incubation at 37 degrees C, while about 60% of the dormant spores became germinated with beta-D-glucose (1 mM) in the same conditions. From the above observations and the finding that only a trace amount of alpha- or beta-D-glucose may bind with the dormant spores, it is speculated that the beta-D-glucose-stereospecific receptor site for the germination exists on the surface of the dormant spores of the bacillus.