Ger Receptors
Bacterial Spores
Category: Bacteria
Endospore-forming bacteria produce some of the most potent toxins known and are important pathogens in hospital-borne infections (Clostridium difficile) food contamination (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium botulinum), wound infestation (Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani) and bioterrorism (Bacillus anthracis).
Bacilli and Clostridia spores form in response to unfavorable environmental conditions and can withstand extremes of heat, radiation, and chemical agents. The spore's durability is even more remarkable considering that dormant spores revert back to actively growing cells almost immediately after nutrients return to the environment. The intrinsic resistance and the ability to remain dormant for long periods make spores the perfect delivery vehicle for infectious diseases.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
Bacilli and Clostridia spores form in response to unfavorable environmental conditions and can withstand extremes of heat, radiation, and chemical agents. The spore's durability is even more remarkable considering that dormant spores revert back to actively growing cells almost immediately after nutrients return to the environment. The intrinsic resistance and the ability to remain dormant for long periods make spores the perfect delivery vehicle for infectious diseases.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
The Ger Receptor Family
Category: Bacteria
Ger receptor activation is the first committed step in the germination process. Ger receptors are encoded, in general, as tricistronic operons containing three protein-coding genes, the A-, B-, and C-subunits. However, some Ger receptor subunits are encoded as orphan monocistronic genes and yet other ger receptor operons encode duplicated subunit genes.
The A-subunit protein of Ger receptors consist of five or six predicted membrane-spanning domains, as well as large N- and C-terminal hydrophilic domains. A-subunit proteins share significant homology to SpoVAF, a late-sporulation protein with no known function. Intriguingly, Ger receptors have been shown to interact with proteins from the spoVA operon. Whether these interactions are relevant to spore germination remains to be elucidated.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria
The A-subunit protein of Ger receptors consist of five or six predicted membrane-spanning domains, as well as large N- and C-terminal hydrophilic domains. A-subunit proteins share significant homology to SpoVAF, a late-sporulation protein with no known function. Intriguingly, Ger receptors have been shown to interact with proteins from the spoVA operon. Whether these interactions are relevant to spore germination remains to be elucidated.
Further reading: The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria