AEM
Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Peterson, S. L.
Right arrow Articles by Tornabene, T. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Peterson, S. L.
Right arrow Articles by Tornabene, T. G.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Peterson, S. L.
Right arrow Articles by Tornabene, T. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 May; 29(5): 669-679
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effects of Lead on the Lipid Compusition of Micrococcus luteus Cells

Steven L. Peterson, Larry G. Bennett1 and Thomas G. Tornabene

Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523

ABSTRACT

Micrococcus luteus cells cultivated in medium containing lead salts exhibited a sequence of changes in the quantity of total cellular lipids with essentially no changes from normal cellular yields. The lipid composition of cells cultivated one to four times was moderately decreased (phase I) whereas that of cells cultivated five to six times was reduced by as much as 50% (phase II). Cells cultivated more than six times in lead-containing media had progressively greater quantities of lipid (phase III) approaching that found in control cells. These cells with reestablished lipid contents showed no further effects from more prolonged exposure to lead salts. Chromatographic studies of total lipids of cells of each lipid phase revealed relatively complete lipid compositions. These results indicated that lead is apparently affecting a common biochemical parameter in the biosynthesis of lipids of lipid phase II cells. Changes in the relative quantities of individual components were observed in both the nonpolar and polar lipids in each lipid phase. The most notable changes were the decrease in aliphatic hydrocarbons with concomitant increases in the diglycerides and components identified as a complex family of ketones. Microscopy examinations of control and lead-treated cells revealed electron dense inclusion bodies in membrane fragments in only lead-treated cells.

FOOTNOTES

1 Present address: Division of Biosciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 May; 29(5): 669-679
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
J. Bacteriol. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. Eukaryot. Cell All ASM Journals

Copyright © 1975 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.