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Alternative function of the electron transport system in Azotobacter vinelandii: removal of excess reductant by the cytochrome d pathway

The N2-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii was grown in an O2-regulated chemostat with glucose or galactose as substrate. Increasing the O2 partial pressure resulted in identical synthesis of the noncoupled cytochrome d terminal oxidase, which is consistent with the hypothesis that A. vinelandii...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1995-11, Vol.61 (11), p.3998-4003
Main Authors: Liu, J.K. (National Sun Yet-Sen University, Taiwan, ROC.), Lee, F.T, Lin, C.S, Yao, X.T, Davenport, J.W, Wong, T.Y
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The N2-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii was grown in an O2-regulated chemostat with glucose or galactose as substrate. Increasing the O2 partial pressure resulted in identical synthesis of the noncoupled cytochrome d terminal oxidase, which is consistent with the hypothesis that A. vinelandii uses high rates of respiration to protect the nitrogenase from oxygen. However, cell growth on glucose showed a lower yield of biomass, higher glycolytic rate, higher respiratory rate, and lower cytochrome o content than cell growth on galactose. Elemental analysis indicated no appreciable change in the C-to-N ratio of cell cultures, suggesting that the major composition of the cell was not influenced by the carbon source. A poor coordination of glucose and nitrogen metabolisms in A. vinelandii was suggested. The rapid hydrolysis of glucose resulted in carbonaceous accumulation in cells. Thus, Azotobacter species must induce a futile electron transport to protect cells from the high rates of glucose uptake and glycolysis
ISSN:0099-2240
1098-5336
DOI:10.1128/AEM.61.11.3998-4003.1995