• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.162-167
• /
• 2001

Methylovorus sp. strain SS1 DSM 11726 was found to grow continuously when it was transferred from 30$\^{C}$ to 40$\^{C}$ and 43$\^{C}$. A shift in growth temperature from 30$\^{C}$ to 45$\^{C}$, 47$\^{C}$ and 50$\^{C}$ reduced the viability of the cell population by more than 10$^2$, 10$^3$and 10$\^$5/ folds, respectively, after 1h cultivation. Cells transferred to 47$\^{C}$ and 50$\^{C}$ after preincubation for 15 min at 43$\^{C}$, however, exhibited 10-fold increase in viability. It was found that incubation for 15 min at 40$\^{C}$ of Methylovorus sp. strain SSl grown at 30$\^{C}$ was sufficient to accelerate the synthesis of a specific subset of proteins. The major heat shock proteins had apparent molecular masses of 90, 70, 66, 60, and 58 kDA. The 60 and 58 kDa proteins were found to cross-react with the antiserum raised against GroEL protein. The heat shock response persisted for over 1h. The shock proteins were stable for 90 min in the cell. Exposure of the cells to methanol induced proteins identical to the heat shock proteins. Addition of ethanol induced a unique protein with a molecular mass of about 40 kDa in addition to the heat-induced proteins. The proteins induced in paraquat-treated cells were different from the heat shock proteins, except the 70 and 60 kDa proteins.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.292-301
• /
• 2000

To make a better use of the beneficial bacterial inoculants in the agricultural practice, dry forms of bacterial fertilizer or pesticides are prepared with carrier materials. During the drying process of bacterial inoculant, most of the cells face a severe osmotic pressure and dehydration, and die off. Our study describes the effect of osmoprotectants such as trigonelline and trehalose on the survival of bacterial cells in high salt concentration and drying conditions. A fluorescent Pseudomonas, strain SSL3, used in this study, could grow in high salt concentration of upto 5% but the cells could not overcome the growth retardation at over 7% of salt concentration. The addition of trigonelline, even on small amount, in liquid medium containing 4% NaCl was detrimental to the cell. However, the addition of trehalose of upto 10 mM to the liquid medium containing 4% NaCl, enhanced cell growth. The cell growth was retarded when 150mM trehalose was added to the medium. Upon dry formulation of cells, trehalose was added. And the dry cells were inoculated into the soil to determine the effect of osmoprotectants on the survival of the cells. The survival of the cells, both in wet or dry soil, was improved by the addition of trehalose during the dry cell formulation. The positive effect of trehalose on the cell survival at $-20^{\circ}C$ and $-70^{\circ}C$ was oven more pronounced. The FTIR (Fourier transformation infra-red) spectroscopic analysis showed that the change of the 2nd amide group was reduced by adding trehalose to the medium containing 4% NaCl. These results suggest that trehalose can protect the cell membrane from dryness or high concentration of salt, thereby diminishing the sudden change of the protein structure of the cell membrane and, as a consequence, improving the cell survival.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.142-148
• /
• 1997

Mrthylov~orits sp. starin SSl, a restricted facultative methylotrophic bacterium. growing on methanol was found to produce small amount of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) under the optimal growth conditions, while it produced large amount of the polysaccharide under nitrogen limihtion. The optimal ratio of carbon to nitrogen for EPS production were found to be 5.2. The optimal temperature and pH for EPS production were 30^{\circ}C.$ and 6.5, spectively. The EPS consisted of carbohydrate, protein and small amount pyruvic acid. The reducing sugars in the EPS consisted mainly of glucose and a small amount of mannose. The EP!; treated with ethanol (EPSae) was found to have several properties different from those of the EPS which was not treated with ethanol (EPSbe); the EPSae contained no pyruvic acid. It also contained less protein and showed much lower viscosity than the EPSbe. The viscosity of EPSbe was very sensitive to NaCl and decreased t;harply upon exposure of the polysaccharide to even 0.5% (wiv) NaCl solution. The viscosity, however, was increased irreversibly upon exposure of the saccharide to high temperature. The molecular weight of EPS was estimiited to be $2.5{\times}$10^6$ - $3.5{\times}*$10^6$ using Sepharose hB column chromatography. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the lyophilized EPSbe and EPSae have a structure of thread-like fibers and a mesh-like structure resembling bee-hive, respectively.