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Increased activity of respiratory enzymes from photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas capsulata in response to small amounts of oxygen

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Abstract

Assays were performed on the components of the respiratory chain enzyme complex and the citric acid cycle enzyme α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.2) from membrane preparations of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata grown in continuous culture. Cells were grown photoheterotrophically then switched to a chemoheterotrophic growth mode. NADH-and succinate-dependent oxygen uptake activities and cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) activity were 5–6-fold higher in chemotrophically grown cells. The activities of NADH dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.99.3) and succinate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.1) did not differ greatly between the two growth modes, and it is suggested that in respiratory chain electron flow the cytochrome c oxidase segment catalyses the rate limiting step. In addition, a 5-fold increase in α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity was observed after the transition from a phototrophic to chemotrophic growth mode. Oxidase and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activities increased 3–4-fold in phototrophically growing cultures exposed to a low partial pressure of oxygen (50 Pa; 1 atmosphere = 1.013×105 Pa). The data suggest that this small amount of oxygen exerts a significant effect on aerobic bioenergetic enzymes, even during phototrophic growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata.

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Author notes

  1. John C. Cox

    Present address: Martin Marietta Laboratories, 1450 S. Rolling Road, 21227, Baltimore, MD, USA

  2. J. Thomas Beatty

    Present address: Department of Genetics, Stahford University School of Medicine, 94305, Stanford, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Photosynthetic Bacteria Group, Department of Biology, Jordan Hall, Indiana University, 47405, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    John C. Cox, J. Thomas Beatty & Jeffrey L. Favinger

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  1. John C. Cox
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  2. J. Thomas Beatty
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  3. Jeffrey L. Favinger
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Cox, J.C., Beatty, J.T. & Favinger, J.L. Increased activity of respiratory enzymes from photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas capsulata in response to small amounts of oxygen. Arch. Microbiol. 134, 324–328 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407811

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407811

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