Glucose influenced degradation of alpha-santonin in pseudomonas sp. strain S (ATCC 43388)

Abstract

Pseudomonas sp., strain S ATCC 43 388 utilizes alpha-santonin by inducible enzyme system measurable by oxygen uptake. Cells grown on acetate or benzoate show negligible oxygen consumption with alpha-santonin. However, glucose grown cells show evidence of a rapid induction of santonin utilizing enzyme system indicating the implication of glucose or its metabolites in the regulation of degradation of santonin. As a consequence, growth of strain S on mixtures of glucose and a-santonin occurs at rates higher than on either of the substrates alone. Mutants with lesion in the glucose metabolism, independent of alpha-santonin degradation, fail to exhibit higher growth rates with the binary substrates. The results infer simultaneous metabolism of substrates.