DEPLETION OF ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATE IN DESULFOVIBRIO BY OXYANIONS OF GROUP-VI ELEMENTS

Oxyanions of elements from group VI of the periodic table, i.e., analogs of SO 4 2-, destroyed adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) in cells of sulfate-respiring bacteria (Desulfovibrio spp.), probably via the ATP sulfurylase reaction. The approximate order of effectiveness was CrO 4 2-> MoO 4 2-=WO 4 2->SeO 4 2-. Cultures of aerobically grown or nitrate-respiring bacteria were less susceptible and with fermentatively grown Escherichia coli the oxyanions even appeared to stimulate ATP levels. The selective depletion of ATP in sulfate-respiring bacteria might provide the basis for a rapid and simple assay of their biomass in mixed cultures or environmental samples. © 1979 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.