Open AccessResponse of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans to phosphate limitation
Author(s) -
Seeger M.,
Jerez C.A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.1993.tb00264.x
Subject(s) - periplasmic space , phosphate , bacteria , bioleaching , ferrous , biochemistry , biology , phosphorus , microbiology and biotechnology , thiobacillus , chemistry , escherichia coli , copper , genetics , organic chemistry , gene
Phosphate ion is an essential nutrient for all cells. Consequently, starvation for this component may constitute a stressing condition which affects the bioleaching capacity of the biomining microorganisms. Therefore, we have studied the manner in which the chemolithotroph Thiobacillus ferrooxidans responds to phosphate limitation. Under these circumstances the bacteria reduced its growth rate, capacity to oxidize ferrous iron and to fix CO,. Concomitant with these changes, the cells showed an increased synthesis of several proteins, some of which were exclusively synthesized during phosphate starvation. When intact cells grown in the absence of phosphate were labelled with 125 I, several proteins were iodinated in addition of those observed in control cells, suggesting that the lack of phosphate induces some proteins located in the membranes or the periplasmic space of the bacteria. It is expected that by measuring the levels of expression of some of the proteins induced by the shortage of phosphorus, it might be possible to estimate in situ the relative physiological condition of the bacteria in a given bioleaching operation.