Electron transport particles from Bacillus stearothermophilus

NAPHTHOQUINONE INTERMEDIATE IN THE RESPIRATION OF BACILLUS STEAROTHERMOPHILUS

Downey, R. J. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.). Naphthoquinone intermediate in the respiration of Bacillus stearothermophilus. J. Bacteriol. 84:953-960. 1962.-A vitamin K-like naphthoquinone has been isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus. The compound was susceptible to light (360 mmu) and can be extracted from electron-transport particles with organic solvents. The reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) oxidase and DPNH-cytochrome c reductase activities in such particles were restored to original levels by the addition of the extracted intermediate, by vitamin K(1), or by menadione. Phosphorylation coupled to the oxidation of malate was restored by addition of the isolated naphthoquinone. Discrepancies in the rate of succinate oxidase and succinate-naphthoquinone reductase activities suggested the intermediate functions in a collateral pathway in the succinate oxidase system of this organism. Anaerobic and aerobic cultivation of the microorganism produced no detectible differences in the character of the intermediate. Reduction of nitrate by the thermophile was not completely dependent upon the naphthoquinone but was significantly stimulated in its presence. No evidence was obtained for the existence of a mixed quinone system in the bacillus.

Effect of temperature on the respiration and cytochromes of an extreme thermophile

The rate of oxygen uptake in an extreme thermophile at 70 C was three times greater than at 50 C. Cytochromes a, b, and c were present in cells grown at 50, 60, and 70 C. The content of these electron transport system elements remained relatively constant as the growth temperature was raised.

Phospholipids from Bacillus stearothermophilus

The lipids of Bacillus stearothermophilus strain 2184 were extracted with chloroform-methanol and separated into neutral lipid and three phospholipid fractions by chromatography on silicic acid columns. The phospholipids were identified by specific staining reactions on silicic acid-impregnated paper, by chromatography of alkaline and acid hydrolysis products, and by determination of acyl ester:glycerol:nitrogen:phosphorus molar ratios. The total extractable lipid was 8% of the dry weight of whole cells and consisted of 30 to 40% neutral lipid and 60 to 70% phospholipid. The phospholipid consisted of diphosphatidyl glycerol (23 to 42%), phosphatidyl glycerol (22 to 39%), and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (21 to 32%). The concentrations of diphosphatidyl glycerol and phosphatidyl glycerol were lower in 2-hr cells than in 4- and 8-hr cells. Whole cells were fractionated by sonic treatment and differential centrifugation. The total lipid content, expressed in per cent of dry weight of each fraction was: whole protoplasts, 10%; membrane fraction, 18%; 30,000 x g particulate fraction, 22%; and 105,000 x g particulate fraction, 26%. The relative phospholipid concentrations in each fraction were about the same. As had been previously reported, none of the phospholipid was stable to alkaline hydrolysis.

Ribonucleic acid and ribosomes of Bacillus stearothermophilus

Saunders, Grady F. (University of Illinois, Urbana), and L. Leon Campbell. Ribonucleic acid and ribosomes of Bacillus stearothermophilus. J. Bacteriol. 91:332-339. 1966.-The ability of some thermophilic bacteria to grow at temperatures as high as 76 C emphasizes the remarkable thermal stability of their crucial macromolecules. An investigation of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and ribosomes of Bacillus stearothermophilus was conducted. Washed log-phase cells were disrupted either by sonic treatment or by alumina grinding in 10(-2)m MgCl(2)-10(-2)m tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer, pH 7.4 (TM buffer). Ultracentrifugal analysis revealed peaks at 72.5S, 101S, and 135S, with the 101S peak being the most prominent. By lowering the Mg(++) concentration to 10(-3)m, the ribosome preparation was dissociated to give 40S, 31S, and 54S peaks. These in turn were reassociated in the presence of 10(-2)m Mg(++) to give the larger 73S and 135S particles. When heated in TM buffer, Escherichia coli ribosomes began a gradual dissociation at 58 C, and at 70 C underwent a large hyperchromic shift with a T(m) at 72.8 C. In contrast, B. stearothermophilus ribosomes did not show a hyperchromic shift below 70 C; they had a T(m) of 77.9 C. The thermal denaturation curves of the 4S, 16S, and 23S RNA from both organisms were virtually identical. The gross amino acid composition of B. stearothermophilus ribosomes showed no marked differences from that reported for E. coli ribosomes. These data suggest that the unusual thermal stability of B. stearothermophilus ribosomes may reflect either an unusual packing arrangement of the protein to the RNA or differences in the primary structure of the ribosomal proteins.

VITAMIN K-MEDIATED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Downey, Ronald J. (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.). Vitamin K-mediated electron transfer in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 88:904-911. 1964.-Electron transfer enzymes were obtained from log-phase cells of Bacillus subtilis after aerobic and anaerobic cultivation. The cytochrome content was found to be related to oxygen tension, there being little, if any, cytochrome operative in anaerobic cells. Vitamin K levels in the two cell types did not vary as markedly. A soluble diaphorase-type flavoprotein was obtained from both types of cells which reacted with vitamin K(2), K(3), and certain dyes but not bovine cytochrome c. Almost 90% of this diaphorase activity was leached from intact protoplasts without the use of solvating agents or sonic oscillation. Electron transport particles capable of coupled phosphorylation were inhibited by light (360 mmu) or 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL), whereas these had no effect on the diaphorase activity. Phosphorylation in a BAL-inhibited system was restored after addition of the soluble diaphorase from either aerobic or anaerobic cells. The results suggested that soluble flavoprotein components are linked to vitamin K in both fermentative and phosphorylative pathways, and that this segment is indispensable to aerobic and anaerobic respiration in the bacillus.