Properties of a Small Bacteriophage and the Action of some Compounds on it

Abstract

The ability of various bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts and moulds to grow on a medium containing sodium 2-keto-d-gluconate as the major carbon source was investigated. The disappearance of 2-ketogluconate during growth was followed and the ability of washed unadapted cell suspensions to oxidize this substrate (as evidenced by O₂ uptake) was studied. Adapted strains were examined for the presence of a 2-ketogluconokinase: this enzyme was detected in organisms of the genera Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, Escherichia, Aerobacter, Paracolobactrum, Serratia, Erwinia, Bacillus. Although some bacteria and yeasts consumed 2-ketogluconate during growth and washed cells were able to oxidize it (after an induction period) 2-ketogluconokinase activity was not detected in cell-free extracts, prepared from these organisms, namely: species of Agrobacterium, Corynebacterium, Schwannio-myces, Debaryomyces, Lipomyces, Candida. Several moulds (chiefly Pyrenomycetes, Aspergillales and Fungi Imperfecti) displayed the same phenomena. A few strains grew weakly on the substrate; however, unadapted cells did not show uptake of oxygen. The remaining strains of bacteria, yeasts, moulds and all the actinomycetes were without activity on 2-ketogluconate.