Assimilation and Metabolism of Exogenous Organic Compounds by the Strict Autotrophs Thiobacillus thioparus and Thiobacillus neapolitanus
AUTOR(ES)
Johnson, Emmett J.
RESUMO
The assimilation and utilization of the individual carbon atoms of pyruvate and acetate by cells of Thiobacillus thioparus and T. neapolitanus, in the presence and absence of an energy source, were studied by use of radioactive substrates. Both organisms produced 14CO2 from 14C-labeled pyruvate, but more came from carbon 1 than from carbons 2 or 3. The conversion of the carbons of acetate to CO2 by both organisms was much less than that from any of the pyruvate carbons. When labeled pyruvate and acetate were incubated with these organisms, small amounts of radioactivity were found in the tricholoacetic acid-soluble material, nucleic acids, and lipids, and larger amounts were found in the protein fraction. The composition of the incubation medium affected the amount of utilization and incorporation of labeled substrates by both organisms. The presence of an exogenous energy source (Na2S2O3) suppressed incorporation of the labeled substrates into various cellular components by T. thioparus, but enhanced incorporation by T. neapolitanus. When 14C-pyruvate was used as a substrate, as many as 12 radioactive compounds were found in the water-soluble fraction in the experiments with T. neapolitanus, whereas no more than three radioactive compounds were detected in this fraction in the experiments with T. thioparus. Of the total 14C activity found in the water-soluble fractions, malic acid contained the highest percentage. These findings are discussed in light of the overall metabolism of these two sulfur-oxidizing obligate chemoautotrophs, as well as in relation to the biochemical basis of chemoautotrophy.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=249835Documentos Relacionados
- Enzymes of Intermediary Carbohydrate Metabolism in the Obligate Autotrophs Thiobacillus thioparus and Thiobacillus neapolitanus1
- ROLE OF INORGANIC PHOSPHATE IN THIOSULFATE METABOLISM BY THIOBACILLUS THIOPARUS1
- Effect of Thiol-Binding Reagents on the Metabolism of Thiosulfate and Tetrathionate by Thiobacillus neapolitanus
- THE METABOLISM OF THIOBACILLUS THIOPARUS I. : The Oxidation of Thiosulfate
- Absorption and Utilization of Organic Matter by the Strict Autotroph, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, with Special Reference to Aspartic Acid