scholarly journals STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF THE AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA

1942 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Vogler ◽  
W. W. Umbreit
Keyword(s):  
Bond Energy ◽  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
Energy Input ◽  
Co2 Fixation ◽  
Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Phosphate Release ◽  
Autotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Constant Rate ◽  
Autotrophic Bacterium

In the autotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, the oxidation of sulfur is coupled to transfers of phosphate from the medium to the cells. CO2 fixation is coupled to transfers of inorganic phosphate from the cells to the medium and is dependent, in the absence of concomitant sulfur oxidation, upon the amount of phosphate previously taken up during sulfur oxidation. The energy reservoir, which is formed by sulfur oxidation in the absence of CO2 and which can be released for the fixation of CO2 under conditions which do not permit sulfur oxidation, is a phosphorylated compound and the data suggest that the energy is stored in the cell as phosphate bond energy. It is possible to oxidize sulfur at a constant rate for hours in the absence of CO2. The phosphate energy formed during this process is probably released by cell phosphotases. It is possible to inhibit these phosphotases by means of inorganic phosphate and thus to inhibit sulfur oxidation in the absence of CO2. In the presence of CO2, where alternative uses for the phosphate energy are available, the inhibition is relieved. Sulfur oxidation (energy input) is coupled, not to CO2 fixation, but to phosphate esterification. CO2 fixation (energy utilization) is coupled with phosphate release.

scholarly journals STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA

1942 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Vogler ◽  
G. A. LePage ◽  
W. W. Umbreit
Keyword(s):  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Bacterial Cell ◽  
Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Energy Of Activation ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Thiobacillus Thiooxidans ◽  
Autotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Autotrophic Bacterium

The data of this paper indicate that: 1. The "energy of activation" (µ) of sulfur oxidation by the autotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, is similar to that of other respirations. 2. The pH of the menstruum does not influence the respiration on sulfur between the limits of pH 2 to 4.8 once contact between the bacterial cell and the sulfur particle has been established but it does influence the rate at which such contact occurs. 3. The pO2 has little effect upon the respiration of this organism. 4. Most organic materials have no detectable effect upon the respiration of Thiobacillus thiooxidans, but the organic acids of terminal respiration seem to stimulate the respiration in the absence of oxidizable sulfur and certain of them inhibit sulfur oxidation. 5. In so far as inhibitor studies on intact cells are trustworthy, sulfur oxidation goes through iron-containing systems similar to cytochrome. It is possible that the oxygen contained in the sulfuric acid formed during sulfur oxidation is derived from the oxygen of the water.

scholarly journals STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA

1942 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Vogler
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Fixation ◽  
Physiological Condition ◽  
Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Considerable Importance ◽  
Resting Cells ◽  
Oxidizing Agent ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Thiobacillus Thiooxidans ◽  
Autotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Growth Bound

In a study of chemosynthesis (the fixation of CO2 by autotrophic bacteria in the dark) in Thiobacillus thiooxidans, the data obtained support the following conclusions: 1. CO2 can be fixed by "resting cells" of Thiobacillus thiooxidans; the fixation is not "growth bound." 2. The physiological condition of the cell is of considerable importance in determining CO2 fixation. 3. CO2 fixation can occur in the absence of oxidizable sulfur in "young" cells. The extent of this fixation appears to be dependent upon the pCO2. 4. CO2 fixation can also occur under anaerobic conditions and the presence of sulfur does not influence such fixation. 5. However, in the CO2 fixation by cells in the absence of sulfur, only a limited amount of CO2 can be fixed. This amount is approximately 40 µl. CO2 per 100 micrograms bacterial nitrogen. After a culture has utilized this amount of CO2 it no longer has the ability to fix CO2 but releases it during its respiration. 6. Relatively short periods of sulfur oxidation can restore the ability of cells to fix CO2 under conditions where sulfur oxidation is prevented. 7. It is possible to oxidize sulfur in the absence of CO2 and to store the energy thus formed within the cell. It is then possible to use this energy at a later time for the fixation of CO2 in the entire absence of sulfur oxidation. 8. Cultures of Thiobacillus thiooxidans respiring on sulfur utilize CO2 in a reaction which proceeds to a zero concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. 9. CO2 may act as an oxidizing agent for sulfur. 10. Hydrogen is not utilized by the organism. 11. It is possible to selectively inhibit sulfur oxidation and CO2 fixation.

scholarly journals THE PRESENCE OF AN ENDOGENOUS RESPIRATION IN THE AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA

1942 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Vogler
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Organic Materials ◽  
Endogenous Respiration ◽  
Thiobacillus Thiooxidans ◽  
Autotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Autotrophic Bacterium

It is shown that there exists in the autotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus thiooxidans a measurable oxygen uptake in the absence of the specific nutrient (sulfur). This respiration is shown to be due to the utilization of organic materials which must have been previously synthesized by the chemosynthetic process, providing evidence that autotrophic bacteria contain a dissimilatory process which involves the breakdown of organic materials and furnishes energy for the maintenance of the cell during periods in which the specific nutrient is absent. This is entirely in accord with the work of Bömeke (1939), who provided similar types of proof for Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. One may conclude, therefore, that autotrophic bacteria possess an endogenous respiration which involves the utilization of previously synthesized organic materials.

Absence of glucokinase in Methanomonas sp. as a cause for their inability to grow on glucose

1972 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 1907-1913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei Amemiya
Keyword(s):  
Phosphate Esters ◽  
Resting Cells ◽  
Obligate Methylotroph ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Autotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Toxic Product ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Autotrophic Bacterium

Many obligate autotrophic bacteria can be grown on glucose using a dialysis flow-through system. Methanomonas methanooxidans, an obligate methylotroph, exhibits many of the properties of an obligate autotrophic bacterium but we have been unable to grow it on glucose using dialysis. In the obligate autotrophic bacteria, the dialysis procedure seems to be removing a toxic product of glucose metabolism but this does not seem to be the case with the methylotroph. Enzymatic assays on a cell-free extract from methane-grown or methane plus glucose-grown cells showed only phosphoglucoisomerase activity, while glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity were not detected. Studies with resting cells showed that glucose was not oxidized, although the phosphate esters of glucose, fructose, ribose, and gluconate were oxidized. CO2 fixation occurred only in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate. The rate of oxygen consumed and CO2 fixed on glucose-6-phosphate were almost identical with that when methanol was used as the substrate. When the phosphate esters of glucose, fructose, and ribose were used as the sole energy source, only glucose-6-phosphate supported growth to any extent; in fact, the amount of growth was essentially the same as that obtained with methanol. The results from this study suggest that the inability of this organism to grow on glucose may be due to the absence of adequate glucokinase.

Phosphate release from dog erythrocytes

1962 ◽  
Vol 202 (5) ◽  
pp. 981-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Ginski ◽  
John F. Thomson ◽  
Akira Omachi
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
Activation Energies ◽  
Glycolytic Enzymes ◽  
Similar Magnitude ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Phosphate Release ◽  
Precursor Pool ◽  
Apparent Activation Energies ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic Conditions

P32 release from dog erythrocytes previously incubated with radioactive inorganic phosphate was investigated. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, apparent activation energies of similar magnitude, 25,000 cals/mole, were obtained. However, P32 release was lower in the absence of oxygen and greater in the presence of iodoacetate. These results suggest that the cellular pool from which P32 is released is accessible to glycolytic enzymes and that the rate of P32 release is related in some manner to the orthophosphate concentration in the precursor pool.

scholarly journals Theoretical and Practical Aspects of the Evaluation of the Level of Energy Utilization in Agricultural Production in South Moravia

Geografie ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-282
Author(s):  
Milan Viturka
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Energy Input ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
South Moravia

The study deals with a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of energy input utilization in enterprises of agricultural pre-production. The emphasis is laid on common and final utilization of the acquired results in the present-day agricultural practice.

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