Use of the adenylate energy charge ratio to measure growth state of natural microbial communities.

Abstract

Measurement of the adenylate energy charge ratio is proposed as a means of determining the growth state of natural microbial communities and the effect of environmental changes on them. Observations on microbial cultures and on natural microbial populations from the Western North Atlantic Ocean water and from sediments of a costal salt marsh show that energy charge measurements do show the metabolic state of communities as well as species populations.