NON-OXIDATIVE ENZYMES OF SPORE EXTRACTS 



129 



330 



10 

 100 



50 100 - L-ALANINE 

 500 1000 - DIALYZATE 



^G SOLIDS /ML 



Fig. 8. The influence of L-alanine and of dialyzate of spore extract on 

 oxygen uptake of intact spores. Oxygen uptake after 150 min. at 30°C in 

 a medium containing ammonium and potassium acetates, 0.05M each, pH 

 6.8, and glucose, 0.025M. 



not lie in the production of L-alanine. Indeed, we are sure of this on the 

 basis of other experiments using D-alanine as an inhibitor of L-alanine 

 activity (Levinson and Hyatt, 1955). We do feel, however, that these ex- 

 periments gave us some insight into the problems involved in spore ger- 

 mination. 



If the stimulation of germination of spores by spore extracts is due in 

 appreciable part to the products of hydrolysis of spore protein, then one 

 would expect more stimulation from extracts derived from incubated hom- 

 ogenates than from extracts made immediately after the preparation of the 

 homogenate. Fig. 9 shows that this is the case. 



Thus: 



1. Spore extracts exert proteolytic activity. 



2. Spore material can, under certain conditions, act as substrate for 

 this activity. 



