ISSN:
1550-7408
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
SYNOPSIS. An iron deficiency was noted for Tetrahymena grown in a proteose-peptone-yeast extract medium. Thus, the addition of an iron chelate and glucose was found to give consistent and luxuriant growth, whereas a number of other additives, including sodium acetate, an inorganic salt mixture lacking iron, and vitamins were found to be without influence on growth rate or cellular yield.Iron-deficient cells showed a marked reduction of oxidative capacity when suspended in a non-nutrient medium as well as when supplied with oxidizable substrates. A 1 hour incubation of iron-deficient Tetrahymena with iron chelate restored oxidative capacity only when the cells were suspended in a nutrient (peptone) medium. Growth of Tetrahymena in media autoclaved with salts resulted in cells with a larger volume but with no increase in oxidative capacity.The addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol elevated respiration of cells suspended in a non-nutrient medium, and of iron deficient cells suspended in the growth medium, suggesting that this compound increases the availability of iron or iron containing compounds, or by-passes the limiting steps.Respiratory quotients were lowered by an iron deficiency and elevated when the cells were grown in the presence of iron and glucose. This suggests more complete utilization of the carbohydrate, possibly due to the activity of a number of enzymes known to be iron-containing metalloproteins that are required for oxidative glucose dissimilation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1964.tb01785.x
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