Capnocytophaga gingivalis: effects of glucose concentration on growth and hydrolytic enzyme production.
In chemostat culture, the microaerophilic, CO2 requiring, gingival-plaque-associated bacterium Capnocytophaga gingivalis responded to the addition of glucose (1-6 g I-1) by doubling its growth rate and increasing its biomass yield fivefold. The data suggest that the glucose is catabolized by a fully aerobic route. Rather than repressing hydrolytic enzymes which might be associated with pathogenic properties, glucose enhanced the specific activity of aminopeptidase, trypsin-like protease, acid and alkaline phosphatase and alpha-glucosidase in comparison with a control culture grown in a tryptone/thiamin medium. Thus, the supply of glucose could be of importance in maximizing the pathogenic potential of this organism.
Spratt
D A
DA
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
Greenman
J
J
Schaffer
A G
AG
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D006867:Hydrolases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D000626:Aminopeptidases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D005947:Glucose