Growth of Streptococcus faecalis var. zymogenes on glycerol: the effect of aerobic and anaerobic growth in the presence and absence of haematin on enzyme synthesis

Abstract

Streptococcus faecalis var. zymogenes was grown aerobically and anaerobically in the presence and absence of haematin, with glycerol as the carbon and energy source. Aerobic growth was stimulated by the inclusion of haematin in the medium but fumarate had no effect on growth. The bacterium was unable to grow anaerobically on glycerol unless fumarate was present; haematin had no effect on growth. NADH oxidase activity, which catalysed the oxidation of NADH + H+ to form H2O rather than H2O2, was found in the soluble fraction and was induced by aerobic growth but partially repressed when haematin was present in the medium. In contrast, a particulate NADH oxidase, which was sensitive to inhibition by antimycin A and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, was induced by aerobic growth in the presence of haematin. NADH peroxidase was massively induced by aerobic growth, whereas more lactate dehydrogenase activity was found in anaerobically grown bacteria. Catalase was formed only during aerobic growth in the presence of haematin.