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Mode of uptake of insoluble solid substrates by microorganisms. II: Uptake of solid n ‐alkanes by yeast and bacterial species
Author(s) -
Cameotra Swaranjit S.,
Singh H. D.,
Hazarika A. K.,
Baruah J. N.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260251211
Subject(s) - alkane , yeast , solubilization , chemistry , substrate (aquarium) , microorganism , hydrocarbon , bacteria , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , ecology , genetics
Using two species of yeast and one of bacterium, evidence has ben obtained which indicates that the microbial uptake of solid alkane powders occurs primarily through a substrate solubilization mechanism. EDTA, a strong inhibitor of hydrocarbon solubilization by the cells, inhibited the growth of these organisms on alkane powder; the inhibition could be removed vai a supply of artificially solubilized alkane. One of the yeast strians, which was a mutant incapable of growing on solid alkane powder and liquid alkane, could grow very well on artifically solubilized alkanes. It was demonstrated that the solid alkane solubilization rate during microbial growth could satisfactorily account for the maximal alkane uptake rate actully observed during growth. The specificity of solubilization for the solid alkane used as the growth substrate was demonstrated.