Proefschrift--Groningen. / Bibliography: p. [64]-65.

When introduced into nutrient medium under air, the asexual sporangiospores of Mucor racemosus germinated within 7 to 8 hours ending in the emergence of germ tubes. Sadenosylmethionine synthetase (SAM synthetase) activity was found to be present in the dormant spore, and increased at a rapid rate after 3 hours. The inhibition of enzyme activity by cycloleucine early in the germination process completely inhibited germ tube formation and only rounded, swollen spores were seen at the end of 7.5 hours. De novo protein synthesis was found to be necessary for SAM synthetase activity throughout the germination process. De novo RNA synthesis was found to be unnecessary for the increase in enzyme activity during the first 3 hours. This suggests that SAM synthetase is coded for in the stored mRNA of the spore. General protein methylation was found to increase through the first 4.5 hours of germination. Autoradiographs of post-translationally methylated proteins subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed approximately 8 bands which appear to change significantly in the degree of methylation during the 7.5 hour germination process. None of the bands were detectable until the 4.5hour period, which corresponds to the rapid increase in enzyme activity seen after 3 hours. / Department of Biology

Proefschrift--Groningen. / Bibliography: p. [64]-65.