title: [Element composition of bacterial cells of various taxa].
abstract: The elemental compositions of cells of representatives of five bacterial genera (Hyphomonas vulgare NP-160, Caulobacter bacteroides NP-105, Flectobacillus major Mm, Escherichia coli, and Spirulina platensis) was studied by electron microscopic x-ray microanalysis. The contents of P, S, Cl, K, and Ca were determined. The bacterial species studied in this work substantially differ by the contents of these elements. A high content of K is typical of S. platensis, whereas F. major, an aquatic form, is rich in Cl. The other bacterial species were had the levels of K, Ca, and the K/Ca index, which correlated with the stability of their cell membranes and resistance to stress. In E. coli, the spectrum of the elemental composition and the values of P/S and K/Ca are indicative of high energy potential and low tolerance of membranes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Nikitin
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Sorokin
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Pitriuk
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nikitina
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D004602:Elements; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004602:Elements