STUDIES ON THE SPORES OF AEROBIC BACTERIA IV. Bacillus Terminalis

Abstract

Well-cleaned intact spores of B. terminalis (B. cereus) exhibit considerable catalase activity which is resistant to a heat treatment sufficient to destroy the catalase activity of vegetative cells of the same organism. Mechanical grinding of the spores increases the specific activity, and the activity then follows 2 different thermal inactivation curves. The 2 fractions differing in heat-sensitivity can not be separated by centrifugation. Spores, heated to destroy the sensitive fraction, exhibit, when mechanically disrupted, the same specific activity as do intact spores which were not ground. The data suggest that the heat-sensitive fraction of the enzyme is contained inside the spores, and is not measurable until the spore is disrupted.