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Metabolism of inorganic sulphur compounds byThiobacillus ferrooxidans and some comparative studies onThiobacillus A2 andT. neapolitanus

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Summary

After growth on thiosulphate,Thiobacillus ferrooxidans could oxidize polythionates and sulphur or ferrous iron, but oxidized thiosulphate only very slowly, with some tetrathionate accumulation. Tetrathionate was metabolized aerobically to sulphate and anaerobically to thiosulphate. Its oxidation was inhibited by thiol-binding reagents.Thiobacillus A2 oxidized thiosulphate, but lacked thiosulphate-oxidizing enzyme and was unable to form or metabolize polythionates, although thiol-binding reagents depressed thiosulphate oxidation.T. neapolitanus oxidized thiosulphate and metabolized polythionates aerobically and anaerobically. Rhodanese enzymes from all three thiobacilli were compared. The comparative results are discussed in relation to possible mechanisms of inorganic sulphur compound oxidation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology Department, Queen Elizabeth College, Campden Hill, W8 7AH, London, England

    D. P. Kelly & O. H. Tuovinen

  2. University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, Warwickshire, England

    D. P. Kelly

  3. Waite Agricultural Research Institute, 5064, Glen Osmond, South Australia

    O. H. Tuovinen

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  1. D. P. Kelly
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  2. O. H. Tuovinen
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Paper read at the Symposium on the Sulphur Cycle, Wageningen, May 1974.

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Kelly, D.P., Tuovinen, O.H. Metabolism of inorganic sulphur compounds byThiobacillus ferrooxidans and some comparative studies onThiobacillus A2 andT. neapolitanus . Plant Soil 43, 77–93 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01928477

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