IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIC SULPHUR COMPOUNDS FORMED DURING THIOSULPHATE OXIDATION BY THIOBACILLUS THIORPARUS
In previous investigations it was demonstrated that the autotrophic sulfur bacteria Th. thioparus utilize only the sulfhydryl group of the thiosulfate molecule. When the --SH group of thiosulfate was labelled with S/sup 35/ the elementary sulfur and sulfate were radioactive. When the central sulfur atom of thiosulfate was labelled, no radioactivity was detectable in the free sulfur. In the present investigation it was found that hydrogen sulfide is oxidized to free sulfur and sulfate ion. The labelled cysteine and alanylthiosulfate also undergo oxidation; the cysteine is metabolized only in the presence of thiosulfate in the medium. Further studies were undertaken on the primary organic intermediate products containing radioactive sulfur from thiosulfate labelled in both positions. By means of various methods, especially paper chromatography, paper electrophoresis, and autoradiography it was possible to identify several organic sulfur-containing substances. From the appearance of these labelled intermediates the possible pathway of thiosulfute oxidation was inferred. The mode of utilization of energy from inorganic substances and its transformation for the processes of life are suggested. The free amino-acid pool and the sequence of its synthesis with C/sup 14/ were estimated, and further parts of the metabolic scheme for Th. thioparus are proposed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Academy of Medicine, Krakow
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-006258
- OSTI ID:
- 4292264
- Report Number(s):
- A/CONF.15/P/1939
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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