Respiratory activity of bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus TM-31 during assimilation of alkane hydrocarbons
Ignatov, O.V.; Grechkina, E.V.; Muratova, A.I.; Turkovskaia, O.V.; Ignatov, V.V.
Prikladnaia Biokhimiia i Mikrobiologiia 36(5): 555-558
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0555-1099 PMID: 11042879 Document Number: 516115
The respiratory activity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus TM-31 with resect to alkane hydrocarbons was studied. The dynamics of oxygen consumption by the cells while assimilating n-hexadecane was assayed by a modified technique using an oxygen electrode. The dependence of cell respiratory activity on the amount of n-hexadecane within the concentration range of 0.03-0.66% was determined. It was demonstrated that the cells also displayed respiratory activity towards other medium-chain n-alkanes: hexane, octane, decane, tridecane, and heptadecane. Thus, we demonstrated the possibility of determining alkanes by measuring the respiratory activities of microorganisms.