Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gene Regulation During Sporulation01:17

Gene Regulation During Sporulation

Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
Peptidoglycan Synthesis01:28

Peptidoglycan Synthesis

Structure of PeptidoglycanPeptidoglycan is a vital structural component of the bacterial cell wall, providing mechanical strength and shape to the cell. It consists of repeating units of two sugars—N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)—linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These sugar chains are cross-linked by short peptide chains, forming a mesh-like polymer that surrounds the bacterial plasma membrane.Cytoplasmic Phase – Precursor SynthesisPeptidoglycan biosynthesis begins in...
Endospores and Sporulation01:20

Endospores and Sporulation

Endospores are specialized, dormant cells primarily formed by Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus and Clostridium, enabling survival under extreme environmental conditions. Due to their unique composition and formation process, these structures are highly resistant to physical and chemical insults, such as extreme heat, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, desiccation, and toxic chemicals. Rare instances of endospore-like structures have also been observed in some Gram-negative bacteria,...
Formation of Lipopolysaccharides01:19

Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin, triggering...
Bacterial Protein Maturation01:26

Bacterial Protein Maturation

Bacterial protein maturation is a tightly regulated process that ensures newly synthesized polypeptides achieve correct functional conformations. This maturation involves a series of modifications, folding events, and quality control steps, often assisted by specialized chaperone proteins.N-Terminal ModificationsThe maturation of bacterial polypeptides begins cotranslationally as the polypeptide exits the ribosome. The first amino acid, N-formylmethionine (fMet), is typically modified at the...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Compensatory evolution facilitates loss of prfB autoregulation in Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25.

Molecular biology and evolution·2026
Same author

Deep-learning deconvolution and segmentation of fluorescent membranes for high-precision bacterial cell-size profiling.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Real-time visualization of collagen assembly uncovers metastable properties in hierarchical organization.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Single capsid mutations modulating phage adsorption, persistence, and plaque morphology shape evolutionary trajectories in ΦX174.

Virus evolution·2026
Same author

A platform to design and optimise fluorogenic scFvs for detection of interleukin 33.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Human NLRP3 inflammasome activation leads to formation of condensate at the microtubule organizing center.

Science advances·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Visualization of Germinosomes and the Inner Membrane in Bacillus subtilis Spores
08:58

Visualization of Germinosomes and the Inner Membrane in Bacillus subtilis Spores

Published on: April 15, 2019

Peptidoglycan transformations during Bacillus subtilis sporulation.

Elitza I Tocheva1, Javier López-Garrido, H Velocity Hughes

  • 1Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.

Molecular Microbiology
|March 28, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Peptidoglycan (PG) surrounds Bacillus subtilis prespores during engulfment, challenging previous assumptions. This finding reveals new roles for PG synthesis in bacterial sporulation and cell wall dynamics.

More Related Videos

Detecting Cortex Fragments During Bacterial Spore Germination
08:35

Detecting Cortex Fragments During Bacterial Spore Germination

Published on: June 25, 2016

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry
13:28

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry

Published on: February 15, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Visualization of Germinosomes and the Inner Membrane in Bacillus subtilis Spores
08:58

Visualization of Germinosomes and the Inner Membrane in Bacillus subtilis Spores

Published on: April 15, 2019

Detecting Cortex Fragments During Bacterial Spore Germination
08:35

Detecting Cortex Fragments During Bacterial Spore Germination

Published on: June 25, 2016

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry
13:28

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry

Published on: February 15, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Vegetative Bacillus subtilis cells and mature spores possess a thick peptidoglycan (PG) layer.
  • The presence and role of PG during the prespore engulfment stage of sporulation were previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether peptidoglycan (PG) surrounds Bacillus subtilis prespores during the engulfment stage of sporulation.
  • To elucidate the structural dynamics of PG during bacterial cell differentiation.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of a slender ΔponA mutant for high-resolution electron cryotomographic imaging.
  • Three-dimensional reconstructions of whole cells and purified sacculi.
  • Fluorescent labeling of PG in live cells.

Main Results:

  • A thin PG-like layer was observed surrounding the prespore throughout engulfment.
  • Cryotomography and fluorescent labeling confirmed PG presence around the prespore.
  • Bacillus subtilis can synthesize both thin, Gram-negative-like and thick, Gram-positive PG layers.

Conclusions:

  • Peptidoglycan (PG) is present around the prespore during engulfment, suggesting novel roles in driving this process.
  • This discovery challenges the need for de novo PG synthesis during cortex formation.
  • Endopeptidase activity likely regulates the switch between thin and thick PG layer assembly during sporulation.