@article{mbs:/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-129-10-3103, author = "Beaman, Kenneth D. and Pollack, J. Dennis", title = "Synthesis of Adenylate Nucleotides by Mollicutes (Mycoplasmas)", journal= "Microbiology", year = "1983", volume = "129", number = "10", pages = "3103-3110", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-129-10-3103", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-129-10-3103", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2080", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Cultures of the Mollicutes (mycoplasmas) Acholeplasma laidlawii B, Acholeplasma morum, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma gallisepticum, representing four metabolic groups, were sampled at intervals over a 40 to 50 h period and assayed for the numbers of c.f.u., changes in pH and glucose concentration, and concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP, lactate and pyruvate. The adenylate energy charge (ECA), the mean generation time, and the number of nmol of ATP (mg dry weight)−1 were calculated for cultures in the mid-exponential growth phase. The maximum cell concentrations ranged from 0·2 1010 to 5·0 1010 c.f.u. ml−1. Doubling times ranged from 0·34 to 3·29 h. The fermentative, non-arginine-requiring A. laidlawii B, A. morum, and M. gallisepticum, as well as the fermentative, arginine-requiring M. fermentans, utilized glucose and produced lactate and pyruvate. The non-fermentative, non-arginine-requiring M. bovis neither utilized glucose nor produced lactate or pyruvate. The non-fermentative, arginine-requiring M. arginini utilized glucose, but did not produce lactate or pyruvate. At mid-exponential growth phase, the average ECA of A. laidlawii B was 0·90, a value similar to that reported for Spiroplasma citri and other bacteria. In contrast, the average ECA of A. morum and the four Mycoplasma species was 0·70. In A. laidlawii B at mid-exponential growth phase, ATP accounted for 97% of the total adenylate nucleotide pool. At the same stage of growth, the average cellular ATP concentration of the other Mollicutes was significantly lower, ranging from 45 to 63% (P < 0·01). Excluding A. laidlawii B, the Mollicutes were relatively energy deficient during their mid-exponential growth phase. The diminished metabolic capacity may be related to the association of Mollicutes with living cells and perhaps to the cytopathic effects of these micro-organisms.", }