Effects of Light and CO on the Survival of a Marine Ammonium-Oxidizing Bacterium during Energy Source Deprivation.
The chemolithotrophic ammonium-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas cryotolerans responds uniquely to nutrient deprivation by lowering its endogenous respiration and anabolic processes to undetectable levels during starvation, thus appearing to enter a dormant state. To ascertain whether this state protects the cells from further stresses (as seen with endospore-forming bacteria), the starved cells were subjected to two known inhibitors, CO and light. It was found that long-term-starved cells were less resistant than freshly starved cells to light inhibition. Both long-term-starved cells and freshly starved cells were unaffected by CO.
Johnstone
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Department of Biological Sciences and Drinking Water Research Center, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199.
Jones
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RD