ROLE AND OXIDATION PATHWAY OF POLY-β-HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID IN MICROCOCCUS HALODENITRIFICANS
- 1 April 1962
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Microbiology
- Vol. 8 (2), 255-269
- https://doi.org/10.1139/m62-032
Abstract
Cells of Micrococcus halodenitrificans have a high poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHBA) content, the oxidation of which accounts for the high endogenous respiration of this organism. The amount of polymer in resting cells decreased with time, and viability could be correlated with the polymer content of the cells. PHBA-rich cells maintained their viability for longer periods than PHBA-poor cells. Cells oxidized PHBA in the presence of sodium chloride but not in water; optimal oxidation occurred in 0.33 to 0.75 M NaCl.The results suggest the following oxidation pathway. A diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate sensitive depolymerase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the polyester to β-hydroxybutyrate. This soluble substrate is oxidized by a DPN-linked D(−)-β-hydroxybutyric acid dehydrogenase to acetoacetate. Acetoacetate is further oxidized in the presence of oxalacetate, ATP, and coenzyme A. Citrate is formed, indicating the presence of the condensing enzyme, and PHBA oxidation is strongly inhibited by malonate. These findings suggest that oxidation proceeds via the tricarboxylic acid cycle.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Formation and Utilization of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid by Knallgas Bacteria (Hydrogenomonas)Nature, 1961
- Enzymatic Synthesis of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid in BacteriaNature, 1961
- THE ROLE OF ORGANIC SUBSTRATES IN BACTERIAL PHOTOSYNTHESISProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1959
- Synthesis and Breakdown of Poly- -Hydroxybutyric Acid by BacteriaJournal of General Microbiology, 1959
- Role of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid in the Assimilation of Organic Carbon by BacteriaNature, 1959
- Occurrence of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid in Aerobic Gram-Negative BacteriaNature, 1958
- THE DEOXYRIBOSE NUCLEIC ACID SLIME LAYER OF SOME HALOPHILIC BACTERIACanadian Journal of Microbiology, 1955
- Studies of the bacterial cell wall: IV. The composition of the cell walls of some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteriaBiochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1953
- The enzymic oxidation of d- and l-β-hydroxybutyrateBiochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1953
- THE EFFECTS OF SALTS ON THE NITRITASE AND LACTIC ACID DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY OFMICROCOCCUS HALODENITRIFICANSCanadian Journal of Botany, 1952