Abstract
An adaptation of the d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) activity to changing CO2 concentrations in the growth medium in the chemostat was observed in the obligate chemolithotroph Thiobacillus neapolitanus. RuBPCase activity has been separated in a soluble and particulate fraction. The activity of the particulate fraction appeared to be associated with the carboxysomes.
The total activity of RuBPCase of CO2 limited cultures was about 5-fold higher than the activity of thiosulphate limited cultures grown in the presence of 5% CO2 whilst the particulate activity and the soluble activity were about 8- and 1.5-fold higher, respectively. The fluctuation of the total and particulate RuBPCase activity correlated with the changes in volume density of carboxysomes in the cell.
An inverse correlation between maximal CO2 fixing capacity by whole cells and the volume density of carboxysomes was observed. The change in ratio of soluble RuBPCase activity to particulate RuBPCase activity paralleled the change in maximal CO2 fixation by whole cells during the different growth conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Codd, G. A., Stewart, W. D. P.: Polyhedral bodies and Ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase of the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Planta 130, 323–326 (1976)
Fellman, J. K.: Isolation and partial characterization of the polyhedral inclusion bodies (carboxysomes) from Thiobacillus neapolitanus. Abstr. Ann. Meeting A.S.M., p. 155 (1977)
Goa, J.: A microbiuret method for protein determination; determination of total protein in cerebrospinal fluid. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 5, 218 (1953)
Kuenen, J. G.: Growth yields and “maintenance energy requirement” in Thiobacillus species under energy limitation. Arch. Microbiol., in press
Kuenen, J. G., Veldkamp, H.: Thiomicrospira pelophila, gen.n.,sp.n., a new obligately chemolithotroph colourless sulfur bacterium. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek J. Microbiol. Serol. 38, 241–256 (1972)
Kuenen, J. G., Veldkamp, H.: Effects of organic compounds on growth of chemostat cultures of Thiomicrospira pelophila, Thiobacillus thioparus and Thiobacillus neapolitanus. Arch. Mikrobiol. 94, 173–190 (1973)
Lorimer, G. H., Badger, M. R., Andrews, T. J.: d-Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase. Analyt. Biochem. 78, 66–75 (1977)
Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., Randall, R. J.: Protein measurement with Folin reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193, 265–275 (1951)
Purohit, K., McFadden, B. A., Shaykh, M. M.: d-Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and polyhedral inclusion bodies in Thiobacillus intermedius. J. Bacteriol. 127, 516–522 (1976)
Shively, J. M., Ball, F., Brown, D. H., Saunders, R. E.: Functional organelles in prokaryotes: polyhedral inclusions (carboxysomes) of Thiobacillus neapolitanus. Science 182, 584–586 (1973)
Shively, J. M., Bock, E., Westphal, K., Cannon, G. C.: Icosahedral inclusions (carboxysomes) of Nitrobacter agilis. J. Bacteriol. 132, 673–675 (1977)
Smith, A. J., Hoare, D. S.: Specialist phototrophs, lithotrophs, and methylotrophs: a unity among a diversity of prokaryotes? Bacteriol. Rev. 41, 419–448 (1977)
Sörbo, B.: A colorimetric method for the determination of thiosulphate. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 23, 412–416 (1957)
Stewart, W. D. P., Codd, G. A.: Polyhedral bodies (carboxysomes) of nitrogen fixing blue-green algae. Br. Phycol. J. 10, 273–278 (1975)
Taylor, B. F., Hoare, D. S.: A new facultative thiobacillus and a reevaluation of the heterotrophic potential of Thiobacillus novellus. J. Bacteriol. 100, 487–497 (1969)
Vishniac, W., Santer, M.: The thiobacilli. Bacteriol. Rev. 21, 195–213 (1957)
Weibel, E. R., Bolender, P.: Stereological techniques for electron microscopic morphometry. In: Principles and techniques of electron microscopy (M. A. Hayat, ed.). New York, Cincinnati, Toronto, London, Melbourne: Van Nostrand Reinhold 1976
Westphal, K., Bock, E.: Characterization of a phage-like particle from cells of Nitrobacter. III. On the DNA content. Arch. Microbiol. 101, 121–131 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beudeker, R.F., Cannon, G.C., Kuenen, J.G. et al. Relations between d-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, carboxysomes and CO2 fixing capacity in the obligate chemolithotroph Thiobacillus neapolitanus grown under different limitations in the chemostat. Arch. Microbiol. 124, 185–189 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427725
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427725