REQUIREMENT OF AN ALKALINE pH AND AMMONIA FOR SUBSTRATE OXIDATION BY<i>BACILLUS PASTEURII</i>

Abstract

Wiley, W. R. (Washington State University, Pullman) and J. L. Stokes. Requirement of an alkaline pH and ammonia for substrate oxidation by Bacillus pasteurii. J. Bacteriol. 84:730-734. 1962-Resting-cell suspensions of Bacillus paseurii require a pH higher than 8.0 and also NH(4) (+) for the oxidation of glycine, alanine, serine, glutamic acid, other amino acids, and compounds of the Krebs cycle. The optimal pH is 9.2. Maximal activity was obtained with 0.5% (NH(4))(2)SO(4), the highest concentration tested. NH(4) (+) can be supplied by a number of inorganic and organic ammonium salts. The effect of NH(4) (+) is fairly specific. It cannot be replaced by Na(+), Cs(+), and Mg(++), and only partially replaced by Li(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Ca(++). Some possible metabolic functions of the required alkaline pH and NH(4) (+) are discussed.