CHARACTERIZATION OF THIOBACILLUS NOVELLUS AND ITS THIOSULFATE OXIDATION

Abstract

Physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of Thiobacillus novellus were reexamined under various conditions for growth. This organism oxidized thiosulfate without inhibition from the presence of organic compounds such as glucose or glutamate. Tetrathionate supported the growth of T. novellus in an autotrophic medium. Optimum pH and temperature for growth were 7.0 in heterotrophic conditions and 7.0-7.4 in autotrophic conditions, and 25-30°. These characteristics were different from those so far described in T. novellus, and therefore the description for T. novellus was amended. Quinone system was coenzyme Q₁₀, and DNA base composition was 67.3mol%. T. novellus required biotin in heterotrophic and autotrophic growth. Cellular fatty acids of the organism consisted of saturated straight chain acids of C_16:0 and C_18:0, mono-unsaturated straight chain acid of C_18:1, and cyclopropane acid of C₁₉ as major components.