TRACE METAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPORULATION OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM

Abstract

Kolodziej, Bruno J. (Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.), and Ralph A. Slepecky. Trace metal requirements for sporulation of Bacillus megaterium. J. Bacteriol. 88:821-830. 1964.-A sucrose-mineral salts medium was purified for the purpose of definitively re-examining the trace metal cations associated with the sporulation of Bacillus megaterium. Two heretofore unknown requirements for copper (0.013 mug/ml of cupric ion) and molybdenum (27.2 mug/ml of molybdate ion) were uncovered. In the purified copper-supplemented medium, sporulation levels of other metals were determined as follows: iron, 0.5 mug/ml of ferrous ion; zinc, 1.1 mug/ml of zinc ion; manganese, 0.037 mug/ml of manganous ion; and calcium, 0.9 mug/ml of calcium ion. The approximate time during which the various metals were required was determined with iron, zinc, calcium, and manganese. A molybdenum substitution for copper, iron, or zinc was noted. The copper requirement was shown for the sporulation of B. cereus var. mycoides and var. albolactis, suggesting that this may be a general requirement for sporulation. The specific functions of metal ions in sporulation are not known, but they probably act as activators of the various enzyme systems necessary for sporulation.