CONVERSION OF CAROTENOIDS TO OXYCAROTENOIDS BY MYCOBACTERIUM PHLEI

Conversion of carotenoids to oxycarotenoids by Mycobacterium phlei.

Information concerning the biological interconversions of carotenoids is fragmentary mainly because the methods for their separation and identification are inadequate. Several hypotheses have been presented. Zechmeister and Sandoval (1946) proposed that the newly discovered phytofluene might be a precursor of the carotenoid pigments. Porter and Lincoln (1950) suggested that the more saturated (...

Genetic transfer in Mycobacterium phlei.

Isolation from Mycobacterium Phlei

Mycobactin is the name suggested for a growth factor, present in acid-fast bacteria, which is essential for the growth of Mycobacterium johnei. A preliminary account ofthe work reported here has already been published (Francis, Madinaveitia, Macturk & Snow, 1949). Myco. johnei is an organism first observed by Johne & Frothingham (1895) in cases of chronic enteritis of cattle. It could not be cu...

Citrate formation in Mycobacterium phlei.

Although it is well known that citrate stimulates the growth of acid fast bacteria, the metabolic role of citrate is still obscure in this bacterial group. Washed suspensions of mycobacteria either fail to oxidize citrate or oxidize this substance slowly (Edson, 1951). On the other hand, clarified extracts of mycobacteria oxidize citrate to a-ketoglutarate (Geronimus, Gray, and Birkeland, 1949;...

“Mycobacterium massilipolynesiensis” sp. nov., a rapidly-growing mycobacterium of medical interest related to Mycobacterium phlei

In French Polynesia, respiratory tract clinical isolate M26, displayed unusual phenotype and contradictory phylogenetic affiliations, suggesting a hitherto unidentified rapidly-growing Mycobacterium species. The phenotype of strain M26 was further characterized and its genome sequenced. Strain M26 genome consists in a 5,732,017-bp circular chromosome with a G + C% of 67.54%, comprising 5,500 pr...