Phytate as the Sole Phosphate Source for Growth of Tetrahymena

Phytate, the storage form of phosphate in seeds and grains, is a major form of environmental phosphate loading from fertilizer inputs and agricultural runoff. We have investigated the ability of Tetrahymena populations to grow on phytate as their sole phosphate source. Populations grew equally well...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology 2002-09, Vol.49 (5), p.428-431
Main Authors: ZIEMKIEWICZ, HOPE T, JOHNSON, MARGARET D, SMITH-SOMERVILLE, HARRIETT E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Culture Media - chemistry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heterotrophic protist
myo-inositol hexakisphosphate
Phosphates - metabolism
phytate
Phytic Acid - metabolism
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Tetrahymena
Tetrahymena - growth & development
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Summary:Phytate, the storage form of phosphate in seeds and grains, is a major form of environmental phosphate loading from fertilizer inputs and agricultural runoff. We have investigated the ability of Tetrahymena populations to grow on phytate as their sole phosphate source. Populations grew equally well in chemically defined medium with phosphate and medium in which the phosphate was replaced with phytate in comparable concentrations between 0.5 mM and 6 mM. Intracellular phytate concentrations of cells grown in phytate showed a 4–6-fold increase over those grown in phosphate when measured during the late stage of exponential growth. These results demonstrate that phytate can provide a source of adequate phosphate for sustained growth in phytate-rich environments.
ISSN:1066-5234
1550-7408
DOI:10.1111/j.1550-7408.2002.tb00223.x