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Biochemical and morphological changes in dormant (“Nonculturable”) Mycobacterium smegmatis cells

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Abstract

Biochemical and morphological changes have been studied during transition of Mycobacterium smegmatis cells into their dormant (“nonculturable”) state. A significant fraction of the population of irreversibly “nonculturable” (NC) cells has a thicker cell wall, condensed cytoplasm, and a decreased number of ribosomes. The lipid contents in the NC cells are lower than in the metabolically active cells, with a relatively decreased amount of phospholipid and neutral lipid. Free mycolic acids, which are abundant in metabolically active cells, were not found in the NC cells. The NC forms are also characterized by decreased respiratory activity on endogenous substrates; however, the respiratory chain enzymes retain their activities in the isolated membranes. Activities of the Krebs cycle and glyoxylate cycle enzymes are markedly decreased. Despite a significant decrease in metabolic activity, NC cells possess membrane potential that seems to provide for reversibility of the NC state of mycobacteria, i.e. their capability of reactivating.

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Abbreviations

CL:

cardiolipin

DCPIP:

2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol

H-dB:

Hartman’s—de Bont medium

NC cells:

“nonculturable” cells

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine

PI:

phosphatidylinositol

PS:

phosphatidylserine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky pr. 33, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    E. G. Salina, M. O. Shleeva & A. S. Kaprelyants

  2. Lomonosov State Academy of Fine Chemical Technology, pr. Vernadskogo 86, 119571, Moscow, Russia

    Yu. A. Zhogina & G. M. Sorokoumova

  3. Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    A. A. Selishcheva

Authors
  1. E. G. Salina
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  2. Yu. A. Zhogina
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  3. M. O. Shleeva
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  4. G. M. Sorokoumova
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  5. A. A. Selishcheva
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  6. A. S. Kaprelyants
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Correspondence to E. G. Salina.

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Original Russian Text © E. G. Salina, Yu. A. Zhogina, M. O. Shleeva, G. M. Sorokoumova, A. A. Selishcheva, A. S. Kaprelyants, 2010, published in Biokhimiya, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 88–98.

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Salina, E.G., Zhogina, Y.A., Shleeva, M.O. et al. Biochemical and morphological changes in dormant (“Nonculturable”) Mycobacterium smegmatis cells. Biochemistry Moscow 75, 72–80 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297910010098

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297910010098

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