Survey of fourteen metabolic inhibitors for their effect on endospore germination in Bacillus subtilis.

Curran, Harold R. (U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.) and Georges Knaysi. Survey of fourteen metabolic inhibitors for their effect on endospore germination in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 82:793-797. 1961.-Phase contrast microscopy was used to study the effects of metabolic antagonists upon incipient spore germination in glucose agar-film microcultures. The period of observation was 1 to 2 hr. Of 14 compounds tested, only ethanol in 10% concentration (v/v) caused almost complete inhibition. Oxamic acid and dl-ethionine were slightly stimulatory; 6-methyl thiouracil and octyl aldehyde were without effect. The inhibiting effect of the remainder depended upon the concentration of the antagonist. The stimulating effect of glucose on germination is discussed.