peptones and formic-acid

The propanotroph Rhodococcus ruber ENV425 was observed to rapidly biodegrade N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) after growth on propane, tryptic soy broth, or glucose. The key degradation intermediates were methylamine, nitric oxide, nitrite, nitrate, and formate. Small quantities of formaldehyde and dimethylamine were also detected. A denitrosation reaction, initiated by hydrogen atom abstraction from one of the two methyl groups, is hypothesized to result in the formation of n-methylformaldimine and nitric oxide, the former of which decomposes in water to methylamine and formaldehyde and the latter of which is then oxidized further to nitrite and then nitrate. Although the strain mineralized more than 60% of the carbon in [(14)C]NDMA to (14)CO(2), growth of strain ENV425 on NDMA as a sole carbon and energy source could not be confirmed. The bacterium was capable of utilizing NDMA, as well as the degradation intermediates methylamine and nitrate, as sources of nitrogen during growth on propane. In addition, ENV425 reduced environmentally relevant microgram/liter concentrations of NDMA to <2 ng/liter in batch cultures, suggesting that the bacterium may have applications for groundwater remediation.

Topics: Aerobiosis; Biotransformation; Dimethylnitrosamine; Formamides; Formates; Glucose; Methylamines; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide; Nitrites; Oxidation-Reduction; Peptones; Propane; Rhodococcus

Wood, N. P. (A. & M. College of Texas, College Station), and D. J. O'Kane. Formate-pyruvate exchange reaction in Streptococcus faecalis. I. Factor requirement for whole cells. J. Bacteriol. 87:97-103. 1964.-A factor present in plant and animal sources was found necessary for the incorporation of formate-C(14) into pyruvate by Streptococcus faecalis 10Cl. Yeast extract produced a response linear in the range between 10 and 30 mg/ml of reaction mixture. Soy peptone, beef peptone, and Brain Heart Infusion replaced yeast extract, but various intermediates, cofactors, amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, and peptides did not stimulate the reaction. A lag occurred in the rate of formate incorporation that was not influenced by anaerobic conditions or growth of cells in a medium containing pyruvate and formate. Phosphate or maleate buffer permitted rapid exchange velocities but tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or collidine buffer was inhibitory. Heating yeast extract at 121 C for 15 min in 3 n H(2)SO(4) produced 66% inactivation of the factor(s), whereas treatment with 3 n KOH produced 97% inactivation. The factor(s) was insoluble in butanol, benzene, ethyl acetate, or chloroform. The material adsorbed on Dowex-1 (OH(-)) and Amberlite IR-120 (H(+)) but not on Amberlite IR-4B (OH(-)). The active component(s) was highly polar, nonvolatile, dialyzable, and had amphoteric properties.

Topics: Acetates; Amino Acids; Carbon Isotopes; Chromatography; Enterococcus faecalis; Formates; Maleates; Peptides; Peptones; Phosphates; Polystyrenes; Purines; Pyrimidines; Pyruvates; Pyruvic Acid; Renal Dialysis; Research; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Tromethamine; Yeast, Dried