Real-time monitoring of Bacillus subtilis endospore components by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy during germination

Chemical changes of particular Bacillus subtilis spore components were moni tored by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscop y (ATR/FTIR) during spore germination on a ZnSe internal reflection element . Within minutes of the initiation of spore germination, significant change s in the amount of calcium dipicolinate (DPA-Ca) and proteins were noted in the wild-type strain. The changes in a germination mutant (strain 1G9, ger D) were similar to those in the wild-type strain, but the rates of change w ere slower. The changes in another germination mutant (strain 1G7, gerA) we re very different from those in the first two strains: germination was slow and incomplete, and proteins and DPA-Ca remained unaltered throughout the course of the germination study. This technique thus offers a sensitive and non-destructive method far real-time monitoring of various cellular compon ents during spore germination.