ISSN:
1432-072X
Keywords:
Fumarate respiration
;
Nitrate respiration
;
Nitrate ammonification
;
Fermentation
;
Anaerobic regulation
;
Bacillus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract In Bacillus macerans, anaerobic respiratory pathways and the regulation of facultatively anaerobic catabolism by electron acceptors were analysed. In addition to fermentative growth, B. macerans was able to grow anaerobically by fumarate, trimethylamine N-oxide, nitrate, and nitrite respiration with glycerol as donor. During growth by fumarate respiration, a membrane-bound fumarate reductase was present that was different from succinate dehydrogenase. The end product of nitrate and nitrite respiration was ammonia. No N2 or NO and only traces of N2O could be detected. O2 repressed the activity of nitrate and fumarate reductases and the fermentation of glucose, presumably at the transcriptional level. Nitrate repressed fumarate reductase activity and partially glucose fermentation. Thus energy metabolism and the regulatory hierarchy with respect to the use of electron acceptors were very similar to that known from E. coli; B. macerans can be regarded as a truly facultative anaerobic bacterium. In addition, the anaerobic growth capabilities of some other Bacillus strains are described.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00381790
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