In vivo 31P-NMR studies of Desulfovibrio species. Detection of a novel phosphorus-containing compound.
The phosphorus metabolism of sulfate-reducing bacteria was, for the first time, probed by in vivo 31P NMR. A novel phosphoric anhydride diester compound was detected in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 at intracellular concentrations up to 5 mM. The compound has been extracted and partially purified by anion-exchange chromatography and analysed by 31P, 13C and 1H NMR. These studies show that the novel phosphorus-containing compound is formed by five carbon atoms and is probably cyclic, with a Mr of approximately 300. Various Desulfovibrio strains were examined in vivo for the presence of this phosphorus-containing compound. Detectable amounts of the novel metabolite were found in D. desulfuricans ATCC 27774 when grown on lactate/sulfate, lactate/thiosulfate or pyruvate/sulfate. The phosphorus-containing compound was not detected when this strain of D. desulfuricans was grown on lactate/nitrate or pyruvate; neither was it detected in two other strains which, like D. desulfuricans ATCC 27774, have the capability of utilizing nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor.
Centro de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Oeiras, Portugal.
H
H
Santos
P
P
Fareleira
C
C
Pedregal
J
J
LeGall
A V
AV
Xavier
D003901:Desulfovibrio / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017553:Phosphorus Compounds; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D013885:Thiosulfates / Q000378:metabolism
D017553:Phosphorus Compounds; D013431:Sulfates; D013885:Thiosulfates; D010758:Phosphorus; C012500:phosphorus pentoxide