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. 1984 Sep;159(3):820–824. doi: 10.1128/jb.159.3.820-824.1984

Bacillus cereus electron transport and proton motive force during aerotaxis.

D J Laszlo, M Niwano, W W Goral, B L Taylor
PMCID: PMC215731  PMID: 6434511

Abstract

Aerotaxis (migration towards oxygen) of Bacillus cereus M63, a motile strain, was inhibited by potassium cyanide and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, indicating a requirement for both the terminal oxidase (cytochrome aa3) and the cytochrome b segment of the electron transport system. The concentration of oxygen that gave a half-maximal aerotactic response (K0.5) was 0.31 microM, which was similar to the Km for respiration (0.80 microM). The proton motive force increased from -135 to -177 mV when anaerobic cells were aerated, and it is proposed that the signal for aerotaxis is the increase in proton motive force that results from increased respiration. A strain of B. cereus T initially used in this study was immotile, grew as long chains of cells, and was deficient in autolytic enzyme. B. cereus M63 is a spontaneous derivative of B. cereus T that has normal motility.

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Selected References

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