N0N-0\IDAT1VK KNZYMKS OF SI'OKK KX'IKVCTS 



123 



Table II 

 Some biological systems in which manganese is involved 



zymes are most active at elevated temperatures, and this may have some- 

 thing to do with the phenomenon of heat activation. 



Hills ( 1949. 1950 1 has reported that L-alanine. a possible hydrolytic 

 product of peptidases, is essential for the germination of B. anthracis and 

 B. suhtilis spores, and we have found, as have many others, that the germi- 

 nation of B. megaterium spores is much enhanced with L-alanine. 



Another point in regard to the enhancement of germination by L-alanine 

 is that spores immersed in L-alanine solution reach their maximal degree of 

 germination practically instantaneously. When manganese is the stimulant, 

 germination increases with the time of incubation (i.e., there is a definite 

 lag). For example, a spore suspension which has germinated 60 per cent 

 after 2 hours in manganese, or in L-alanine. will have reached this per- 

 centage within five to ten minutes in L-alanine. but it may take as long as 

 1.5 hours for this percentage of germination to be reached with manganese. 

 This seems to indicate a more direct action of L-alaniiie than of manganese 

 in germination. 



Specifically, I believe that the spore creates its own stinmlus for germi- 

 nation (providing a source of energy is available). No externally supplied 

 excitant is needed. We have proposed that manganese acts, at least in part. 



