title: Studies on utilization of 2-ketoglutarate, glutamate and other amino acids by the unicellular alga Cyanidium caldarium.
abstract: Two strains of Cyandium caladarium which possess different biochemical and nutritional characteristics were examined with respect to their ability to utilize amino acids or 2-ketoglutarate as substrates. One strain utilizes alanine, glutamate or aspartate as nitrogen sources, and glutamate, alanine, or 2-ketoglutarate as carbon and energy sources for growth in the dark. The growth rate in the dark on 2-ketoglutarate is almost twice as high or higher than that on glutamate or alanine. During growth or incubation of this alga on amino acids, large amounts of ammonia are formed; however, ammonia formation is strongly inhibited by 2-ketoglutarate. The capacity of the alga and develops fully only when the cells are grown or incubated in the presence of glutamate.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002474:Cell-Free System; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003624:Darkness; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism*; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D009565:Nitrate Reductases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005971:Glutamates; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D003513:Cycloheximide; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D009565:Nitrate Reductases; D000409:Alanine