THE OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CHITINOCLASTIC BACTERIA IN THE SEA

Abstract

Bact. capable of attacking chitin are widely distributed in the sea, and have been isolated from various marine invertebrates, sea water and bottom deposits. Some of the latter were collected from depths exceeding 2000 m. at stations over 200 miles off the coast of southern California. Some of the marine chitinoclastic bacteria can derive their complete C or energy and N requirements from chitin. Other types require simple C compounds but can utilize N from chitin. A 3d type of chitinoclast attacks chitin only in the presence of readily available C and N. Many of the chitinoclastic bacteria liberate ammonia or acid from chitin; processes which may or may not be accompanied by its dissolution. Most of the 31 different pure cultures which have been isolated are slender to ovoid gram-neg. rods. About i of them are pigmented[long dash]a characteristic which has proved ephemeral. Some of the chitinoclasts recovered from the deep sea are psychrophiles, active at 0-4[degree]C.