This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eastin, J. D. Articles by Thorne, C. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Eastin, J. D. Articles by Thorne, C. B.

CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION IN BACILLUS ANTHRACIS

^a U.S. Army Chemical Corps, Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland

ABSTRACT

EASTIN, JERRY D. (U.S. Army Chemical Corps, Frederick, Md.) AND CURTIS B. THORNE. Carbon dioxide fixation in Bacillus anthracis J. Bacteriol. 85:410–417. 1963.—Virulent strains of Bacillus anthracis require a concentration of CO₂ greater than that of the normal atmosphere (air) for the production of capsular material (glutamyl polypeptide); avirulent strains may produce no polypeptide or may produce polypeptide in air. Fixation of C¹⁴O₂ by each of the three types tested resulted in labeling of aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, succinic acid, and an unidentified organic acid. C¹⁴ was detected in aspartic acid after less than 30 sec of exposure of cells to C¹⁴O₂. Subsequent flushing of the cells with C¹²O₂ displaced C¹⁴ from aspartic acid but not from the other labeled intermediates. Aspartic acid appears to be closely associated with the primary CO₂-fixation product, and the data suggest a fairly direct carbon pathway from CO₂ to aspartic acid (oxaloacetic acid) to glutamic acid to glutamyl polypeptide.

¹ Present address: Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Former National Academy of Sciences—National Research Council Research Associate.

² Present address: Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis.