Germination rates of complemented GR mutants for <i>C. botulinum</i> and <i>C. sporogenes</i>.

<p>Spores were incubated in 20 mM Tris buffer, pH 7.4, amino acid (100 mM) + L-lactate (50 mM) + NaHCO₃ (50 mM) at 30°C with L-cysteine (<i>C. botulinum</i>), L-alanine (<i>C. sporogenes</i>). (a) <i>C. botulinum</i> mutant <i>gerXA1</i>-0123⁻ complemented with plasmid pMTL8315esp (<i>gerXA1</i>-0123⁻esp) or plasmid pMTL8315fdx (<i>gerXA1</i>-0123⁻fdx). (b) <i>C. sporogenes</i> mutant <i>gerXA3</i>-02217⁻ complemented with plasmid pMTL8315esp (<i>gerXA3</i>-02217⁻esp) or plasmid pMTL8315fdx (<i>gerXA3</i>-02217⁻fdx). There were two negative controls. Firstly, the uncomplemented mutant (<i>gerXA1</i>-0123⁻ or <i>gerXA3</i>-02217⁻), secondly WT spores incubated in 20 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4) + L-lactate (50 mM) + NaHCO₃ (50 mM) only (WT Buffer). Spore germination was confirmed by phase contrast microscopy. Error bars represent the standard deviation of 3 independent experiments. Data labels (right) refer to percentage germination observed by phase contrast microscopy at the end of the experiment.