Inactivation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase during germination and outgrowth of Bacillus cereus T endospores.

The specific activity and total activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) under conditions of complete cell breakage fall 10-20-fold during a 3h period of spore germination and outgrowth. The spores must germinate (lose refractility), but do not have to undergo outgrowth, for the loss of activity to occur. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity from cells as any stage of development is completely stable in extracts at 4 degrees C or 30 degrees C. All of the enzyme activity is found in a soluble (50000g supernatant) fraction and remains completely soluble throughout development. Soluble protein and total cellular protein remain constant for about 2h. Proteinases could not be detected or protein turnover demonstrated during the morphogenetic process. Phenylmethanesuophony fluoride and o-phenanthroline, inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes, do not prevent glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase inactivation when added to whole cells. Mixing experiments show no inhibitor of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase to be present in late-stage cells. The enzyme is not excreted into the culture medium. Chloramphenicol and rifampicine immediately stop protein synthesis and development but not the inactivation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. NaN3, 2,4-dinitrophenol or anaerobiosis immediately stop development and prevent the loss of enzyme activity. A requirement for metabolic energy is therefore probable. Extracts of spores pre-labelled with L[14C]leucine were made at various stages of morphogenesis and subjected to polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which was identified by a specific stain, did not lose 14C label, and therefore may not be degraded during the inactivation process.