When washed suspensions of Staphylococcus epidermidis were starved under anaerobic conditions the viability declined to < 10% within 12 h. Although RNA was slightly degraded during this period the principal substrate for endogenous metabolism was protein and the intracellular amino acid pool. The adenylate energy charge and the ability to transport serine declined markedly within the first 6 h of starvation. With the majority of batches of organism investigated the membrane potential, as measured by the accumulation of Cs+ by valinomycin-treated organisms, also decreased significantly during this period. Addition of glucose or serine during starvation reversed these effects to varying extents provided that feeding took place during an early phase (2 h) of starvation. There was no apparent correlation between the magnitude of the membrane potential and viability.
BoothI.R.,
MitchellW.J.,
HamiltonW.A.1979; Quantitative analysis of proton-linked transport systems. The lactose permease of Escherichia coli.
. Biochemical Journal 182:687–696
DawesE.A.,
LargeP.J.1970; Effect of starvation on the viability and cellular constituents of Zymomonas anaerobia and Zymomonas mobilis.
. Journal of General Microbiology 60:31–42
HoranN.J.,
MidgleyM.,
DawesE.A.1978a; Anaerobic transport of serine and 2-aminoiso-butyric acid by Staphylococcus epidermidis.
. Journal of General Microbiology 109:119–126
HoranN.J.,
MidgleyM.,
DawesE.A.1978b; Effect of starvation on transport, membrane potential and survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis.
. Society for General Microbiology Quarterly 6:34
MitchellW.J.,
BoothI.R.,
HamiltonW.A.1979; Quantitative analysis of proton-linked transport systems. Glutamate transport in Staphylococcus aureus.
. Biochemical Journal 184:441–449
MontagueM.D.,
DawesE.A.1974; The survival of Peptococcus prévotii in relation to the adenylate energy charge.. Journal of General Microbiology 80:291–299
ReeceP.,
TothD.,
DawesE.A.1976; Fermentation of purines and their effect on the adenylate energy charge and viability of starved Peptococcus prévotii.
. Journal of General Microbiology 97:63–71