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. 1991 Mar;57(3):825–829. doi: 10.1128/aem.57.3.825-829.1991

Chemotactic Behavior of Azotobacter vinelandii

Stephen Haneline 1, Carla J Connelly 1, Thoyd Melton 1,*
PMCID: PMC182801  PMID: 16348448

Abstract

Chemotaxis was exhibited by Azotobacter vinelandii motile cells. Exposure of cells to sudden increases in attractant concentration suppressed the frequency of tumbling and resulted in smooth swimming. Cells responded chemotactically to a chemical gradient produced during metabolism. Motility occurred over a temperature range of 25 to 37°C with an optimum pH range of between pH 7.0 and 8.0. The average speed of motile cells was determined to be 74 μm/s or 37 body lengths per s. The speed of cells appeared to increase as a function of attractant concentration. Chemotactic systems for fructose, glucose, xylitol, and mannitol were inducible. A. vinelandii exhibited chemotaxis for a number of compounds, including hexoses, hexitols, pentitols, pentoses, disaccharides, and amino sugars. We conclude from these studies that A. vinelandii exhibits a temporal chemotactic sensing system.

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Selected References

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