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Spore control (Sco) mutations in Bacillus subtilis

V. Electron microscope studies of the kinetics of morphogenesis in wild type and Sco strains

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Summary

Morphogenesis of spore control (Sco) mutants of Bacillus subtilis was followed by quantitative electron microscopy. In wild type cultures the morphological stages II, III, IV and V attain their peaks of frequency at 1.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5 h after t 0, respectively. Stages II and IV are short, stages III and V occupy the main part of the process. Morphogenesis is slowed down in Sco A1, Sco B2 and Sco12 strains: all the stages are delayed and prolonged. Stage III cells are predominant for a long time, until t 9 or later. It is suggested that the mechanism which switches off sporulation genes is affected and this leads to overproduction of sporulation-associated products. In other Sco mutants, such as Sco C3, part of the population sporulates normally but a fraction of cells persists for a long time at stages III and V. The pleiotropy of the spore control mutations is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Experimental Cytology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    J. C. F. Sousa & M. T. Silva

  2. Unité de Microbiologie, C.N.R.S., Montpellier, France

    G. Balassa

Authors
  1. J. C. F. Sousa
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  2. M. T. Silva
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  3. G. Balassa
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Communicated by F. Gros

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Sousa, J.C.F., Silva, M.T. & Balassa, G. Spore control (Sco) mutations in Bacillus subtilis . Molec. Gen. Genet. 163, 285–291 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271957

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271957

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