Abstract
The regulation of methylamine and formaldehyde metabolism in Arthrobacter P1 was investigated in carbonlimited continuous cultures. To avoid toxic effects of higher formaldehyde concentrations, formaldehyde-limited cultures were established in smooth substrate transitions from choline-limitation. Evidence was obtained that the synthesis of enzymes involved in the conversion of methylamine into formaldehyde and in formaldehyde fixation is induced sequentially in this organism. Compared to growth with methylamine the molar growth yield on formaldehyde was approximately 30% higher. This difference is mainly due to the expenditure of energy for the uptake of methylamine from the medium.
The addition of a pulse of a “heterotrophic” substrate, glucose or acetate, to C1 substrate-limited continuous cultures resulted in relief of carbon limitation and transient synthesis of increasing amounts of cell material. Concomitantly, a significant decrease in the specific activities of hexulose phosphate synthase was observed. However, the total activity of hexulose phosphate synthase in these cultures remained clearly in excess of that required to fix the formaldehyde that became available in time. The observed strong decrease in the specific activities of this RuMP cycle enzyme strongly suggests that its synthesis is controlled via catabolite repression exerted by the metabolism of “heterotrophic” substrates.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- HPS:
-
3-Hexulose-6-phosphate synthase
- HPI:
-
3-hexulose-6-phosphate isomerase
- RuMP:
-
ribulose monophosphate
References
Anthony C (1982) The biochemistry of methylotrophs. Academic Press, London
Attwood MM, Quayle JR (1984) Formaldehyde as a central intermediary metabolite of methylotrophic metabolism. In: Crawford RL, Hanson RS (eds) Microbial growth on C1 compounds. American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, pp 315–323
Dijkhuizen L, Harder W (1984) Current views on the regulation of autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation via the Calvin cycle in bacteria. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 50:473–487
Dijkhuizen L, Boer L de, Boers RH, Harder W, Konings WN (1982) Uptake of methylamine via an inducible, energy-dependent transport system in the facultative methylotroph Arthrobacter P1. Arch Microbiol 133:261–266
Dixon GH, Kornberg HL (1959) Assay methods for key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle. Biochem J 72:3
Goldberg I, Rock JS, Ben-Bassat A, Mateles RI (1976) Bacterial yields on methanol methylamine, formaldehyde and formate. Biotechnol Bioeng 18:1657–1668
Harder W, Dijkhuizen L (1982) Strategies of mixed substrate utilization in microorganisms. Phil Trans R Soc London B 297:459–480
Harder W, Visser K, Kuenen JG (1974) Laboratory fermenter with an improved magnetic drive. Lab Practice 23:644–645
Harder W, Dijkhuizen L, Veldkamp H (1984) Environmental regulation of microbial metabolism. In: Kelly DP, Carr NG (eds) The microbe 1984. Part II: Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Society for General Microbiology Symposium 36. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 51–95
Hazeu W, Bruyn JC de, Dijken JP van (1983) Nocardia sp. 239, a facultative methanol utilizer with the ribulose monophosphate pathway of formaldehyde fixation. Arch Microbiol 135: 205–210
Levering PR, Dijkhuizen L (1985) Regulation of methylotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism in Arthrobacter P1. Growth on mixtures of methylamine and acetate in batch and continuous cultures. Arch Microbiol 142:113–120
Levering PR, Dijken JP van, Veenhuis M, Harder W (1981a) Arthrobacter P1, a fast growing versatile methylotroph with amine oxidase as a key enzyme in the metabolism of methylated amines. Arch Microbiol 129:72–80
Levering PR, Binnema DJ, Dijken JP van, Harder W (1981b) Enzymatic evidence for a simultaneous operation of two onecarbon assimilation pathways during growth of Arthrobacter P1 on choline. FEMS Microbiol Lett 12:19–25
Levering PR, Dijkhuizen L, Harder W (1982) Enzymatic evidence for the operation of the FBP aldolase cleavage and TK/TA rearrangement variant of the RuMP cycle in Arthrobacter P1. FEMS Microbiol Lett 14:257–261
Levering PR, Dijkhuizen L, Harder W (1984) Metabolic regulation in the facultative methylotroph Arthrobacter P1. Growth on primary amines as carbon and energy source. Arch Microbiol 139:188–195
Levering PR, Croes LM, Dijkhuizen L (1986) Regulation of methylamine and formaldehyde metabolism in Arthrobacter P1. Formaldehyde is the inducing signal for the synthesis of the RuMP cycle enzyme hexulose phosphate synthase. Arch Microbiol 144:279–285
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NH, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurements with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Nash T (1953) The colorimetric estimation of formaldehyde by means of the Hantzsch reaction. Biochem J 55:416–421
Quayle JR, Ferenci T (1978) Evolutionary aspects of autotrophy. Microbiol Rev 42:251–273
Tempest DW (1978) Dynamics of microbial growth. In: Norris JR, Richmond MH (eds) Essays in microbiology. John Wiley, Chichester New York Brisbane Toronto, pp 1–32
Van Vliet-Smits M, Harder W, Dijken JP van (1981) Some properties of the amine oxidase of the facultative methylotroph Arthrobacter P1. FEMS Microbiol Lett 11:31–35
Walker JF (1964) Formaldehyde. 3rd ed Reinhold Publishing Corp, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Levering, P.R., Croes, L.M., Tiesma, L. et al. Regulation of methylamine and formaldehyde metabolism in Arthrobacter P1. Arch. Microbiol. 144, 272–278 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410962
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410962