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Biomedical subjects

J W FOSTER

Publications and source records attributed to J W FOSTER.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1954

Non-involvement of lysis during sporulation of Bacillus mycoides in distilled water.

Washed vegetative cells of Bacillus mycoides obtained and treated under specified conditions have been found to sporulate when shaken in distilled water under specified conditions. Within limitations of the methods, a heat-resistant cell (spore) is produced for each heat-sensitive vegetative cell present initially. Several different experiments designed to detect massive lysis and cell growth during sporulation in distilled water yielded uniformly negative results. Evidence is furnished for the conclusion that a freshly formed spore (heat-resistant cell) weighs considerably less than its progenitor vegetative cell. The observed results are most satisfactorily explained as a direct conversion of a vegetative cell to a spore.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1952

On the nature of sporogenesis in some aerobic bacteria.

Washed vegetative cells of various species of aerobic spore-forming bacteria sporulate abundantly when shaken in distilled water in air. The spores thus formed possess the same heat resistance as spores formed in a complete growth medium. Various factors influencing sporogenesis in water are described. Glucose in low concentration completely suppresses sporogenesis under these conditions and the suppression is relieved by the presence of ammonia as an exogenous source of nitrogen. Various amino acid and purine antimetabolite analogues inhibit sporogenesis and their inhibitory effects are completely reversed by much smaller amounts of the corresponding metabolites. Sporogenesis is thus regarded as a de novo synthesis of spore proteins from preexisting endogenous (enzyme) proteins. Cells low in protein fail to sporulate and the capacity of the cell to adaptively attack maltose and trehalose is strongly interfered with after the cell is irreversibly committed to sporulation, but not before that. Evidence is advanced supporting the hypothesis that sporogenesis is an endogenous process which commences when the supply of exogenous energy and carbon is depleted. It utilizes low molecular weight nitrogenous substances liberated by the degradation of preexisting enzyme proteins of the vegetative cell. Sporogenesis and adaptive enzyme formation are regarded as competitive synthetic processes, both utilizing endogenous enzyme proteins. The events of sporogenesis suggest that this process may be an adaptive protein synthesis, analogous to adaptive enzyme synthesis.

Bacteria↗