Phytopathology. 2004 Nov;94(11):1249-51. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO.2004.94.11.1249.
ABSTRACT Bacilli, which are abundant in the soil, form highly resistant dormant cell types, called spores, in response to starvation. The spore is organized into a series of concentrically arranged structures, each of which contribute in a different way to resistance against environmental stress. In certain bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, the outermost of these structures is a multilayered protein shell, called the coat. The coat is both an armor plating and, almost certainly, possesses enzymatic activities, allowing it to have active roles as well. Assembly of the proteins comprising the coat is carefully controlled during spore assembly, resulting in a distinct pattern of layers, seen in cross section, and a discreet pattern of ridges on the surface. Although our understanding of spore coat composition and assembly is deepening, we still know little about the roles of the coat in interactions between spores and other organisms, particularly in the soil. Critical future directions for spore coat research include continued identification of the proteins that comprise the coat surface, characterization of the global chemical characteristics of this surface, and elucidation of how these features impact on other organisms in the soil.
摘要 土壤中大量存在的杆菌会在饥饿时形成具有高度抗逆性的休眠细胞类型，即芽孢。芽孢组织成一系列同心排列的结构，每个结构都以不同的方式有助于抵抗环境压力。在某些细菌中，包括枯草芽孢杆菌，这些结构的最外层是一种多层蛋白质壳，称为外壳。外壳既是装甲板，几乎可以肯定地，还具有酶活性，使其具有主动作用。在芽孢形成过程中，外壳蛋白的组装受到严格控制，导致在横截面上出现明显的层状图案和表面上离散的脊状图案。尽管我们对芽孢外壳的组成和组装的理解正在加深，但我们仍然对外壳在芽孢与其他生物体之间的相互作用中的作用知之甚少，特别是在土壤中。芽孢外壳研究的未来关键方向包括继续鉴定构成外壳表面的蛋白质，对该表面的整体化学特性进行特征描述，以及阐明这些特征如何影响土壤中的其他生物体。
