Endospore
By Levi Clancy for Student Reader on
updated
Endospores are produced by sporulation. Endospores are differentiated cells highly ressistant to heat, chemicals & radiation. They are strongly refractile, impermeable to most dyes. Outermost layer is the exosporium, a thin protein covering. Within this are spore coats composed of spore-specific proteins. Then the cortex, composed of loosly corss-linked peptidoglycan. Then the core or spore protplast. Core wall, cm, cm, nucleoid, ribosomes & other cellular essentials. Differs from vegetative cell based on structure found outside core wall. Characteristic of endospores is dipicolinic acid. Located in the core. Endospores enriched in calclium ions, combined with dipicolinic acid. Repressents 10% of dry wight.
Intercalates in DNA & stabliizes it to heat denaturation. Calcium dipicolinate reduces H2O content of core. Dehydrations confers resistance to chemicals like H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) & causes enzymes remaining in core to become inactive. pH of core one unit lower than vegetative cell cytoplasm. Small acid-soluble proteins in high concentration (SASPs). Made during sporulation & have 2 functions: bind tightly to DNA & protet it from UV, dessication & dry heat. SASPs make DNA the A form. They also function as a carbon & NRG source for the outgrowth of a new vegetative cell from endospore, process caled germination.
Characteristic | Vegetative Cell | Endospore |
---|---|---|
Structure | Gram-positive cell; a few Gram-negative cells | Thick spore cortex; spore coat; exosporium |
Appearance | Nonrefractile | Refractile |
Calcium content | Low | High |
Dipicolinic acid | Low | High |
Enzymatic activity | High | Low |
Metabolism (O2 Uptake) | High | Low or absent |
Macromolecular synthesis | Present | Absent |
mRNA | High | Low or absent |
Heat resistance | Low | High |
Radiation resistance | Low | High |
Chemical resistance | Low | High |
Stability by dyes | Stainable | Special methods only |
Lysozyme action | Sensitive | Resistant |
H2O content | High, 80-90% | Low, 10-25% in core |
Small acid-soluble ssp genes | Absent | Present |
Cytoplasmic pH | 7 | 5.5-6.0 in core |