MICROBIAL METABOLISM OF CARBAMATES II. Streptomyces nitrificans

Microbial Metabolism of Carbamates

“…S. nitrificans developed on gluconate but not on methanol, formate, oxalate, glucuronate, or glucosamine. The respiratory activity obtained in these studies is considerably greater than that previously reported (Isenberg et al, 1954). The improved method now used to prepare cell material (Mohan, 1952) avoided the loss by dilution and inactivation of essential coenzymes as had occurred in the original procedure.…”

“…Although many bacteria and actinomycetes grow well on glucose, glycerol, succinate, and acetate with urethan as the nitrogen source, S. nitrificans is the only known microorganism that develops on the carbamate as the only supply of both nitrogen, carbon, and energy. In previous studies, the endogenous and substrate oxidation by nonproliferating cells of S. nitrif&cans was very slow (Isenberg et al, 1954). This paper describes methods of producing highly active cell preparations of this organism (Mohan, 1952).…”

“…But only 7 per cent of the ethanol was respired compared with 40 per cent of the carbamate (table 1, part B). Since S. nitriftcarw produces nitrite (Isenberg et al, 1954), the greater 02 uptake with urethan might conceivably arise from nitrification. But when NH3 in the forms of carbonate and sulfate was supplied as a respiration substrate, no appreciable increase in gas consurmption occurred.…”