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Activity of marine psychrophilic bacteria at elevated hydrostatic pressures and low temperatures

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Abstract

Uptake and metabolic turnover of a variety of radioactively labeled substrates by a number of bacterial isolates from several depths in offshore Atlantic waters were studied in laboratory experiments. The variable conditions were hydrostatic pressure (1 to 400 atm), temperature (1.50 to 15.0°C), concentration of substrate (2 to 500 μg/ml), and time of incubation (4 h to 8 weeks). Elevated hydrostatic pressure and low temperature retarded the rate of metabolism (biosynthesis more than respiration) in all isolates tested, but considerably less in those of psychrophilic character.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    C. O. Wirsen & H. W. Jannasch

Authors
  1. C. O. Wirsen
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  2. H. W. Jannasch
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Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark

Contribution No. 2944 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Supported by the National Foundation Grants GA-33405 and GA-29665.

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Wirsen, C.O., Jannasch, H.W. Activity of marine psychrophilic bacteria at elevated hydrostatic pressures and low temperatures. Mar. Biol. 31, 201–208 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387147

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387147

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