
Full text loading...
Helicobacter pylori whole cells showed high rates of oxygen uptake with l-serine and l-proline as respiratory substrates, and somewhat lower rates with d-alanine and d-proline. These respiratory activities were inhibited by rotenone and antimycin A at low concentrations. Since pyruvate was produced from l-serine and d- and l-alanine in whole cells, the respiratory activities with these amino acids as substrates occurred via pyruvate. Whole cells showed 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP)-reducing activities with d- and l-proline and d-alanine as substrates, suggesting that hydrogen removed from these amino acids also participated in oxygen uptake by the whole cells. High amounts of l-proline, d- and l-alanine, and l-serine were present in H. pylori cells, and these amino acids also predominated in samples of human gastric juice. H. pylori seems to utilize d- and l-proline, d-alanine and l-serine as important energy sources in its habitat of the mucous layer of the stomach.
Article metrics loading...
Full text loading...
References
Data & Media loading...