Group 5B
202101254 SIYONGWANA, E.S
202101372 BANGANI, N
202101493 MAKOYI, A
202101533 SILWANYANA, S
202101676 MABUYA, K
202101291 MPHOMELA, T
MIC 211
Assignment (Endospore)
3 April 2023
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What is an Endospore?
An endospore is a hard, non-reproductive structure generated by specific Firmicute bacteria
that is inactive and incapable of reproduction. Endospore production, which mostly affects
Gram-positive bacteria, is sped up by a lack of nutrients. When an endospore is formed, the
bacteria split within its own cell wall. Suddenly one another totally engulf the two sides.
Bacteria can lay dormant for an awfully long time, sometimes even centuries, thanks to
endospores. The endospore has the capacity to reawaken and enter the vegetative state when
the surrounding conditions are more hospitable. Some bacteria that can create endospores in
their cells include Bacillus and Clostridium (Kim and Schumann, 2009).
The bacterium's DNA and some of its cytoplasm make up the endospore, which has an
extremely durable exterior layer that shields it from the outside environment. In the lack of
nutrition, endospores can survive. These plants can withstand extreme temperatures,
desiccation, UV light, and chemical disinfectants without any issues. They are found in soil
or water, both of which are places where they can live for lengthy periods of time. In the
inside of their cells, bacteria develop a single endospore (McKenney et al, 2013).
Endospore structure
Because of its extraordinary resistance to harm, an endospore has a distinctive cellular
structure. A significant percentage of the spore's resistance to chemicals and enzymes comes
from its outer proteinaceous layer. A mammalian animal's cortex is a very thick layer of a
particular peptidoglycan that sits beneath its coat. The proper creation of the cortex, which
increases the spore core's tolerance to hot temperatures, depends on dehydration of the spore
core. Below the cortex is a germ cell wall. This layer of peptidoglycan will change into the
bacterial organism's cell wall after the endospore germinates. Under the germ cell wall, there
is an inner membrane that acts as a strong permeability barrier against a range of potentially
dangerous substances. The DNA of the cell, ribosomes, and a sizable amount of dipicolinic
acid are all present at the highly dry and core stage of the endospore (McKenney et al., 2013).
According to the research, this substance that is unique to endospores can make up as much
as 10% of a spore's dry weight and is thought to be crucial for maintaining spore dormancy.
Only endospores have small acid-soluble proteins (SASPs), which are crucial for the survival
of these tiny organisms. A large portion of the DNA's resistance to UV light and other DNA-
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damaging chemicals can be attributed to the tight binding and condensing of these proteins
with DNA. Stalks, toxin crystals, or an additional outer glycoprotein covering known as the
exosporium are only a number species-specific elements and structures that are associated
with endospores (Nicholson et al., 2000).
Endospore structure
Endospores development
An endospore forms through a difficult procedure. The model organism used to research
endospore development is Bacillus subtilis. It takes many hours to complete the laborious
process of endospore creation. Key morphological changes that occur during different stages
of development have been discovered in order to differentiate between them (Read et al.,
2003). A cell splits asymmetrically when it starts the process of producing an endospore
(Stage II). The bigger mother cell and the more compact forespore are formed as a result,
creating two compartments (see illustration). These two cells have completely different
developmental paths. The successive activation of specialized sigma factors in each of the
cells in the intercellular communication system is how intercellular communication systems
specifically coordinate cell-specific gene expression (Nicholson, 2002).
The forespore is then contained by the mother cell once the peptidoglycan in the septum is
dissolved, creating a cell within a cell (Stage III). The mother cell's actions lead to the
manufacture of molecules that are specific to endospores (Stages IV+V), the formation of the
cortex, and the deposition of the coat once the forespore has been produced. The terminal
stage of development is when the endospore has developed and dehydrated (Stages
VI+VII).The endospore is released into the environment once the mother cell is eliminated by
the process of programmed cell death. The endospore will reawaken after a time of
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hibernation when it notices the return of more hospitable conditions. The RNA polymerase
must be guided to certain DNA locations in order for gene expression to start (Hong et al.,
2013).
Development stages
Conclusion
Bacterial endospores are all incredibly dormant and have varying degrees of strength in their
resistance to enzymes, other physical and chemical agents, heat, and other environmental
variables. Similar vegetative cells generally have heat resistance that is up to 105 times
greater than similar animal cells. Via the addition of extra resistance, spores raise the intrinsic
resistance of their contents by 40 to 55 degrees Celsius. The dormancy and resistance
mechanisms for spores have a number of different components. Some of the properties
include the core protoplast's low water content, high levels of calcium dipicolinate,
immobilization of tiny molecules, and DNA protection by small acid-soluble proteins, whose
binding to DNA is enhanced by dryness (Errington and Aart, 2020).
A crucial stage in the formation of spores' resistance and dormancy mechanisms, among other
things, is their distinctive compartmentalization during sporulation, which results in a core
protoplast surrounded by the peptidoglycan cortex and coats. The cortex is necessary for the
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maintenance of resistance and dormancy; the spores coats are not necessary for these
processes. Although the precise process by which it accomplishes so is unknown, it manages
to keep the protoplast that it encloses at a low water level (Harwood, 1989). The deliberate
use of germination as a spore control procedure in foods has not been successful because
populations of naturally occurring spores are reluctant to germinate quickly and completely in
the absence of an external stimulus, even though some types of spores can be engineered to
germinate quickly and lose their resistance properties. It's likely that future innovations in
preservation methods will offer an alternative to spore control measures. Examples include
the spore's ability to germinate under intense hydrostatic pressure (García et al., 2005).
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References
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