The Metabolism of Iron-, Zinc- and Manganese-Deficient Nocardia opaca

SUMMARY: The metabolism of iron-, zinc- and manganese-deficient cells of N. opaca was studied. Zinc-deficient organism showed inability to utilize reserve carbohydrate as compared with organism grown under normal conditions. Manganese deficiency caused a much decreased DNA synthesis. Iron deficient organism lacked catalase and the oxygen uptake with certain substrates (pyruvate, phenylacetate, n-dodecane) was markedly affected.