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Crystal protein formed by Bacillus subtilis cells
J Rubikas1, D Androsiuniene, G Chestukhina
1Institute of Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Lithuanian SSR, Vilnius, USSR.
Journal of Bacteriology
|November 1, 1987
Summary
Bacillus subtilis Cgr4 cells can form crystal-like inclusions or undergo spore morphogenesis, but not both. These crystal proteins share similarities with spore coat proteins.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bacillus subtilis is a model organism for studying bacterial differentiation.
- Spore morphogenesis and crystal protein formation are complex cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of crystal-like inclusions in Bacillus subtilis Cgr4.
- To determine the relationship between crystal protein formation and sporulation.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy for visualizing cellular structures.
- Percoll density gradient centrifugation for cell fractionation.
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for protein analysis.
- Amino acid composition and antigenic feature analysis.
Main Results:
- Crystal-like inclusions composed of spherical subunits were observed in Bacillus subtilis Cgr4 cells.
- Crystal protein formation and spore morphogenesis are alternative pathways.
- Cells containing crystal protein were isolated using Percoll density gradient centrifugation.
- SDS-PAGE revealed a major protein band of 47,000 molecular weight in crystal-containing cells.
- The crystal protein exhibited similarities to spore coat protein in antigenic features and amino acid composition.
Conclusions:
- Bacillus subtilis Cgr4 cells exhibit alternative developmental pathways: crystal protein formation or sporulation.
- The identified crystal protein is distinct but shares characteristics with spore coat proteins, suggesting potential functional or evolutionary links.