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Changes in cell composition and viability of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus during starvation

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Abstract

  1. 1.

    Washed cell suspensions of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus harvested shortly after lysis of their substrate organisms and shaken in buffer have a constant and high endogenous respiration rate for a bout 6 h which then declines sharply to a rate approximately 10% of the original. Viability of cell suspensions shows little change over the first 4–6 h and then decreases by some 50% in 10 h.

  2. 2.

    Over the first 5–6 h of starvation there is a loss of about 50% of total cell carbon. This loss is distributed about equally between CO2 and small molecules released into the suspending buffer. The protein and nucleic acid contents of the cells decrease concomitantly from time zero during starvation while DNA content remains constant. Ribosomal profiles show a rapid degradation of ribosomes.

  3. 3.

    In the presence of glutamate or glutamate plus a balanced amino acid mixture, loss of cell material and loss of viability is partially or completely prevented. There is extensive protein turnover when glutamate and an amino acid mixture are available to the bdellovibrio.

  4. 4.

    The pattern of changes observed in B. bacteriovorus during starvation is compared to reported changes in other species of bacteria, and the significances of its high endogenous respiration and sensitivity to starvation are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, University of California, 90024, Los Angeles, California

    Robert B. Hespell, Michael F. Thomashow & Sydney C. Rittenberg

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  1. Robert B. Hespell
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  2. Michael F. Thomashow
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  3. Sydney C. Rittenberg
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Hespell, R.B., Thomashow, M.F. & Rittenberg, S.C. Changes in cell composition and viability of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus during starvation. Arch. Microbiol. 97, 313–327 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403070

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403070

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