Abstract
An Arthrobacter sp. (strain 9006), isolated from lake water, accumulated nitrite up to about 15 mg N/l, but no nitrate. In a mineral medium supplemented with tryptone, yeast extract, acetate and ammonium, the cells released nitrite into the medium parallel to growth or when growth had virtually ceased. The nitrite formed was proportional to the initial acetate concentration, indicating an involvement of acetate metabolism with nitrification. The organism grew with a wide variety of organic carbon sources, but washed cells formed nitrite from ammonium only in the presence of citrate, malate, acetate or ethanol. Magnesium ions were required for nitrification of ammonium and could not be replaced by other divalent metal ions. Analysis of the glyoxylate cycle key enzymes in washed suspensions incubated in a minimal medium revealed that isocitrate lyase and malate synthase were most active during the nitrification phase. Nitrite accumulation but not growth was inhibited by glucose, tryptone and yeast extract. A possible explanation for the different nitrification patterns during growth is based on the regulatory properties of glyoxylate cycle enzymes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- IL:
-
Isocitrate lyase [threo-Ds-isocitrate glyoxylate-lase, E.C. 4.1.3.1.]
- MS:
-
malate synthase [l-malate glyoxylate-lyase (CoA-acetylating), E.C. 4.1.3.2.]
References
Alexander, M., Marshall, K. C., Hirsch, P.: Autotrophy and heterotrophy in nitrification. Proc. Comm. III, 7th Intern. Congr. Soil Sci., Madison, Wisc., pp. 586–591 (1960)
Aleem, M. I. H.: Oxidation of inorganic nitrogen compounds. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 21, 67–90 (1970)
Aleem, M. I. H., Lees, H., Lyric, R.: Ammonium oxidation by cell-free extracts of Aspergillus wentii. Can. J. Biochem. 42, 980–998 (1964)
Amarger, N., Alexander, M.: Nitrite formation from hydroxylamine and oximes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 95, 1651–1657 (1968)
Czensny, R.: Wasser-, Abwasser- und Fischereichemie, 2. Aufl. Leipzig, Deutscher Verlag für Grundstoffchemie 1956
Dixon, G. H., Kornberg, H. L.: Assay methods for key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle. Biochem. J. 72, 3P (1959)
Donawa, A., Inniss, W. E.: Metabolic activity of acetate-grown Bacillus megaterium KM. Can. J. Microbiol. 16, 1199–1203 (1970)
Doxtader, K. G., Alexander, M.: Nitrification by growing and replacement cultures of Aspergillus. Can. J. Microbiol. 12, 807–815 (1966a)
Doxtader, K. G., Alexander, M.: Nitrification by heterotrophic soil microorganisms. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 30, 351–354 (1966b)
Doxtader, K. G., Alexander, M.: Role of 3-nitropropanoic acid in nitrate formation by Aspergillus flavus. J. Bacteriol 91, 1186–1191 (1966c)
Eylar, O. R. Jun., Schmidt, E. L.: A survey of heterotrophic microorganisms from soil for ability to form nitrite and nitrate. J. Gen. Microbiol. 20, 473–481 (1959)
Fisher, T., Fisher, E., Appleman, M. D.: Nitrite production by heterotrophic bacteria. J. Gen. Microbiol. 14, 238–247 (1956)
Flavell, R. B., Fincham, J. R. S.: Acetate non-utilizing mutants of Neurospora crassa. II. Biochemical deficiencies and the roles of certain enzymes. J. Bacteriol. 95, 1063–1068 (1968)
Focht, D. D., Verstraete, W.: Biochemical ecology of nitrification and denitrification. In: Advances in microbial ecology, Vol. 1 (M. Alexander, ed.), pp. 135–214, New York, London: Plenum Press 1977
Gode, P., Overbeck, J.: Untersuchungen zur heterotrophen Nitrifikation im See. Z. allg. Mikrobiol. 12, 567–574 (1972)
Gunner, H. B.: Nitrification by Arthrobacter globiformis. Nature (Lond.) 197, 1127–1128 (1963)
Hanozet, G. M., Guerritore, A.: Role of phosphoenolpyruvate and 6-phosphogluconate in the short-term control of yeast isocitrate lyase. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 149, 127–135 (1972)
Hirsch, P., Overrein, L., Alexander, M.: Formation of nitrite and nitrate by actinomycetes and fungi. J. Bacteriol. 82, 442–448 (1961)
Holz, G., Bergmeyer, H. U.: Acetat: Bestimmung mit Acetatkinase und Hydroxylamin. In: Methoden der enzymatischen Analyse, Bd. 2, 2. Aufl. (H. U. Bergmeyer, ed.), pp. 1486–1490. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie 1970
Hylin, J. W., Matsumoto, H.: The biosynthesis of 3-nitropropanoic acid by Penicillium atrovenetum. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 93, 542–545 (1960)
Kleber, H.-P., Müller, E.: Regulation der Isozitratlyase von Pseudomonas aeruginosa durch Carnitinmetabolite. Acta Biol. Med. Ger. 25, 749–756 (1970)
Kornberg, H. L.: The role and control of the glyoxylate cycle in Escherichia coli. Biochem. J. 99, 1–11 (1966)
Loveless, J. E., Painter, H. A.: The influence of metal ion concentrations and pH value on the growth of a Nitrosomonas strain isolated from activated sludge. J. Gen. Microbiol. 52, 1–14 (1968)
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)
Marshall, K. C., Alexander, M.: Nitrification by Aspergillus flavus. J. Bacteriol. 83, 572–578 (1962)
Obaton, M., Amarger, N., Alexander, M.: Heterotrophic nitrification by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Arch. Mikrobiol 63, 122–132 (1968)
O'Neill, J. G., Wilkinson, J. F.: Oxidation of ammonia by methane-oxidizing bacteria and the effects of ammonia on methane oxidation. J. Gen. Microbiol. 100, 407–412 (1977)
Verstraete, W., Alexander, M.: Heterotrophic nitrification by Arthrobacter sp. J. Bacteriol. 110, 955–961 (1972a)
Verstraete, W., Alexander, M.: Mechanism of nitrification by Arthrobacter sp. J. Bacteriol. 110, 962–967 (1972b)
Wolfson, P., Krulwich, T. A.: Inhibition of isocitrate lyase: The basis for inhibition of growth of two Arthrobacter species by pyruvate. J. Bacteriol. 112, 356–364 (1972)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Witzel, K.P., Overbeck, H.J. Heterotrophic nitrification by Arthrobacter sp. (strain 9006) as influenced by different cultural conditions, growth state and acetate metabolism. Arch. Microbiol. 122, 137–143 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411352
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411352