Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in Mycobacterium phlei and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra

Abstract

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) is present in slow growing as well as fast growing mycobacteria. Apparently there does not seem to be any direct relationship between either intra- or extracellular cAMP content with the growth rate of bacilli. As compared to that of E. coli grown on a similar energy source, cAMP content is much higher in mycobacteria. cAMP content inside the cells remains unaltered throughout the growth period and this may be due to lack of complete utilization of the major energy source, glycerol. Glucose when added to the cells, suspended in phosphate buffer, caused a remarkable decrease in intracellular cAMP content, a phenomenon well established in other bacteria.