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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1972 December; 24(6): 977-985
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Physiological and Biochemical Changes Associated with Macroconidial Germination in Microsporum gypseum

^a Department of Microbiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, British Columbia, Canada

ABSTRACT

A study was made of the metabolic processes associated with macroconidial germination in Microsporum gypseum. The optimum conditions for stimulation of endogenous respiration, changes in chemical composition as germination proceeds, and the uptake and synthetic fates of amino acids, glucose, and uracil were investigated. The assimilation and conversion of ¹⁴C-glucose, ¹⁴C-amino acids, and ¹⁴C-uracil into the cell pool and into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material were studied during the early stages of germination (i.e., prior to germ-tube emergence). The macroconidia were not metabolically inert for any significant period of time after exposure to germination conditions. Rather, the spores rapidly assimilated all metabolites and slowly converted them into macromolecules. Investigations of the effect of inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis prior to germ-tube emergence and during early germ-tube elongation suggested significant changes in metabolism and cell permeability may be correlated with the emergence of germ tubes. Radioactivity of incorporated glucose was found to be associated largely with the lipid fractions of the macroconidia early in germination.

¹ Present address: University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, Mass. 01604.