title: FACTORS INFLUENCING GROWTH AND POLYSACCHARIDE FORMATION BY STRAINS OF CHROMOBACTERIUM VIOLACEUM.
abstract: Corpe, William A. (Columbia University, New York, N.Y.). Factors influencing growth and polysaccharide formation by strains of Chromobacterium violaceum. J. Bacteriol. 88:1433-1441. 1964.-Gelatinous Chromobacterium violaceum strains elaborate a fibrous exopolysaccharide that forms a matrix in which growing cells are embedded. Stable, nongelatinous variants arising from gelatinous cultures were of two types: (i) those that had lost the ability to produce polysaccharide, and (ii) those that had lost the capacity to bind the polymer into a matrix. Gelatinous strains growing in Tryptone did not produce a matrix, but rather elaborated polysaccharide free into the medium. The effect of Tryptone was not one of selection of nongelatinous variants. Growth and polysaccharide synthesis in a defined medium were greatest when amino acids were substituted for ammonia as a nitrogen source. Best growth and polysaccharide yield occurred when the ratio of carbohydrate to nitrogen was in the order of 10:1. Depolymerization of formed polymer occurred in cultures grown with Casamino Acids as the nitrogen source. Calcium ion stimulated polysaccharide formation. Iron, although stimulating growth, inhibited polysaccharide formation.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids; D000641:Ammonia; D002118:Calcium; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates; D002861:Chromobacterium; D003470:Culture Media; D004583:Electrons; D006601:Hexoses; D007501:Iron; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009584:Nitrogen; D010461:Peptones; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D012106:Research
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002241:Carbohydrates; D003470:Culture Media; D006601:Hexoses; D010461:Peptones; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C017721:casamino acids; D000641:Ammonia; D007501:Iron; D009584:Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium
keywords: AMINO ACIDS; AMMONIA; CALCIUM; CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM; CARBOHYDRATES; CHROMOBACTERIUM; CULTURE MEDIA; EXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDY; IRON; MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON; NITROGEN; PEPTONES; POLYSACCHARIDES, BACTERIAL