Concentrations of nicotinamide nucleotide coenzymes in micro-organisms.

SUMMARY The results are presented of a survey of NAD and NADP concentration in twenty microorganisms. They fell into three categories with respect to NAD concentration. (i) High NAD (> 4.5 ,umoles/g. dry weight) in obligate anaerobes, members of the Lactobacillaceae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (ii) Medium NAD (1.0-3.0 pmoleslg. dry weight) in faculative anaerobes, photosynthetic bacteria and Nocardia globerula. (iii) Low NAD (< 0.9 pmoles/g. dry weight) in obligate aerobes. Different categories were not found with respect to NADP concentration. Consistent differences in NAD concentration due to conditions of aeration were not found, but growth on different substrates frequently led to changes in NAD concentration. The concentration of NAD in Streptococcus faecalis grown on gluconate was only 6% of the concentration in glucose-grown organisms. In Pseudomonas oxalaticus NAD concentrations when grown on formate or oxalate were 13 and 8 times, respectively, greater than the concentration in acetate-grown organisms. NADP concentrations in Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Streptococcus faecalis were increased 2-to 5-fold by aeration. In Nocardia globerula, Streptomyces griseus and Bacillus megaterium the concentrations of NAD found after growth in complex media were 3-5 times greater than the amounts found after growth on minimal media. This effect was not observed with Pseudomonas jluorescens.