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Microelectrophoretic studies of lysozyme-resistant spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 suggested that carboxyl groups were the only ionized species on the spore surface. Spores of B. megaterium NCIB 8291 have defective coats, allowing lysozyme to attack the underlying cortical peptidoglycan and initiate germination-like changes. The surface of such spores was characterized by the presence of ionized carboxyl and amino groups, suggesting that the amino groups were present on the cortical surface. Spores of B. megaterium QM B1551 rendered defective by extraction of coat protein with sodium dodecyl sulphate and dithiothreitol at pH 10 were also lysozyme sensitive and had similar electrophoretic behaviour to the naturally coat-defective spores. Since the electrophoretic behaviour of coat defective spores is qualitatively similar to that of germinated spores, holes or channels may appear in the spore coat during the early stages of germination, exposing the cortical peptidoglycan.
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