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The Utilization of Magnesium by Certain Gram-Positive and Gram-negative Bacteria
Abstract
SUMMARY
Several Gram-positive bacilli and Gram-negative bacteria were found to differ markedly in their ability to concentrate Mg2+ from simple chemically defined media. In cultures of the Gram-negative bacteria the uptake of Mg2+ was quantitative over the range where growth was limited by the concentration of Mg2+. The Gram-positive bacilli, however, were unable to utilize Mg2+ when the external concentration was low, and at higher concentrations sufficient to support about half maximal growth, assimilated less than 50% of the available Mg2+. Both Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms initially liberated Mg2+ when suspended in Mg2+-free media, the Mg2+ being re-utilized rapidly by the Gram-negative organisms. In suspensions of Aerobacter aerogenes the liberation of Mg2+ was independent of temperature and the re-utilization of Mg2+ was dependent on temperature.
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© Society for General Microbiology 1966