Abstract
Veillonella alcalescens contained a membrane-bound lactate oxidase system. Studies on the effect of inhibitors on lactate oxidase showed the participation of non-heme iron, quinone and cytochromesb andd. Superoxide anion radicals (\(O_2^{\bar \cdot } \)) and H2O2 were shown to be formed at lactate oxidation and presumably arose from cyanide- and azide-resistant side chains of the respiratory system. The →H+/O ratio withL-lactate as a hydrogen donor was 2.3. When an anaerobic culture growing on lactate was shifted to a high dissolved oxygen tension (d.o.t.=15 kPa) rapid inhibition of growth and lactate conversion occurred. This could be correlated with a rapid inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase. The effects of high d.o.t.'s on lactate dehydrogenase, lactate conversion and growth were reversible. After a shift to low d.o.t.'s (<2.5 kPa) growth ofV. alcalescens continued for one or two doublings whereafter lysis did occur. Acetate and pyruvate were the main fermentation products. P/O ratio's were calculated from molar growth yields and fermentation balances. A P/O value of 0.66 was found after a shift to a very low oxygen supply at which the d.o.t. presumably was zero. Shifts to higher d. o. t.'s gave much lower growth yields. Presumably, under these conditions uncoupling between growth and energy production occurred. Accumulation of toxic oxygen compounds was given as an explanation for the behaviour ofV. alcalescens at low d.o.t.'s.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- HQNO:
-
2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide
- CCCP:
-
carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone
- ABTS:
-
2,2′-azino-di-3-ethyl-benzthiazoline sulfonate
- DCPIP:
-
2,6 dichlorophenolindophenol
- PMS:
-
phenazine methosulfate
- NBT:
-
p-nitro blue tetrazolium chloride
- d.o.t.:
-
dissolved oxygen tension
- SOD:
-
superoxide dismutase
References
Aebi, H.: Katalase. In: Methoden der enzymatischen Analyse, Vol.I (H. U. Bergmeyer, ed.), pp. 636–641. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie 1970
Beauchamp, C., Fridovich, I.: Superoxide dismutase: improved assays and an assay applicable to acrylamide gels. Analyt. Biochem.44, 276–287 (1971)
Epel, B. L., Neumann, J.: The mechanism of the oxidation of ascorbate and Mn2+ by chloroplasts. The role of the radical superoxide. Biochim. Biophys. Acta325, 520–529 (1973)
Van Gent-Ruyters, M. L. W., de Meyere, F. A., de Vries, W., Stouthamer, A. H.: Lactate metabolism inPropionibacterium pentosaceum growing with nitrate or oxygen as hydrogen acceptor. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. Z. Microbiol. Serol.42, 217–228 (1976)
Guidotti, G., Colombo, J., Foa, P. O.: Enzymic determination of glucose: stabilization of color developped by dianisidine. Anal. Chem.33, 151–153 (1961)
Heinen, W.: Inhibitors of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. In: Methods in microbiology, Vol. 6A (J. R. Norris, D. W. Ribbons eds.), pp. 383–393 London-New York: Academic Press 1971
Jones, C. W., Redfearn, E. R.: The cytochrome system ofAzotobacter vinelandii. Biochim. Biophys. Acta143, 340–353 (1967)
Jones, R. W., Garland, P. B.: Sites and specificity of the reaction of bipyridylium compounds with anaerobic respiratory enzymes ofEscherichia coli. Biochem. J.164, 199–211 (1977)
Johnston, M. A., Delwiche, E. A.: Distribution and characteristics of catalases of Lactobacillaceae. J. Bacteriol.90, 347–351 (1965)
Kröger, A., Dadak, V.: On the role of quinones in bacterial electron transport. The respiratory system ofBacillus megaterium. Eur. J. Biochem.11, 328–340 (1969)
Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., Randall, R. J.: Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem.193, 265–275 (1951)
McCord, J. M., Keele, B. B., Fridovich, J.: An enzyme-based theory of obligate anaerobiosis: the physiological function of superoxide dismutase. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.68, 1024–1027 (1971)
Meyer, E. M., van Verseyeld, H. W., van der Beek, E. G., Stouthamer, A. H.: Ehergy conservation during aerobic growth inParacoccus denitrificans. Arch. Microbiol.112, 25–34 (1977)
Morris, J. G.: The physiology of obligate anaerobiosis. In: Advances in microbial physiology, Vol. 12 (A. H. Rose, D. W. Tempest, eds.), pp. 169–246. London-New York-San Francisco: Academic Press 1975
Niekus, H. G. D., de Vries, W., Stouthamer, A. H.: The effect of different dissolved oxygen tensions on growth and enzyme activities ofCampylobacter sputorum subspeciesbubulus. J. Gen. Microbiol.103, 215–222 (1977)
Niekus, H. G. D., Wouters, C. H., de Vries, W., Stouthamer, A. H.: Superoxide dismutase and hydrogen peroxide formation inCampylobacter sputorum subspeciesbubulus. Arch. Microbiol.119, 37–42 (1978)
Pritchard, G. G., Wimpenny, J. W. T., Morris, H. A., Lewis, M. W. A., Hughes, D. E.: Effects of oxygen onPropionibacterium shermanii grown in continuous culture. J. Gen. Microbiol.102, 223–233 (1977)
Ruoff, K. L., Delwiche, E. A.: Nitrate-reductase electron-transport cofactors inVeillonella alcalescens. Can. J. Microbiol.23, 1562–1567 (1977)
Scholes, P., Mitchell, P.: Respiration-driven proton translocation inMicrococcus denitrificans. J. Bioenerg.1, 309–323 (1970)
Senez, J. C.: Some considerations on the energetics of bacterial growth. Bacteriol. Rev.26, 95–107 (1962)
Stouthamer, A. H.: Energetic aspects of the growth of microorganisms. In: Microbial energetics. Symposium 27 of the Society for General Microbiology (B. A. Haddock, W. A. Hamilton, eds.). pp. 285–315, London-New York-Melbourne: Cambridge University Press 1977
De Vries, W., Rietveld-Struyk, T. R. M., Stouthamer, A. H.: ATP formation associated with fumarate and nitrate reduction in growing cultures ofVeillonella alcalescens. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. Z. Microbiol. Serol.43, 153–167 (1977)
De Vries, W., van Wijck-Kapteyn, W. M. C., Oosterhuis, S. K. H.: The presence and function of cytochromes inSelenomonas ruminantium, Anaerovibrio lipolytica andVeillonella alcalescens. J. Gen. Microbiol.81, 69–78 (1974)
De Vries, W., van Wijck-Kapteyn, W. M. C., Stouthamer, A. H.: Influence of oxygen on growth, cytochrome synthesis and fermentation pattern in propionic acid bacteria. J. Gen. Microbiol.71, 515–524 (1972)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Vries, W., Donkers, C., Boellaard, M. et al. Oxygen metabolism by the anaerobic bacteriumVeillonella alcalescens . Arch. Microbiol. 119, 167–174 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00964269
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00964269