SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MICROCOCCUS

III. TERMINAL RESPIRATION AND PARTICULATE FRACTION YOSHIRO YABE

Abstract

1. The cell-free extract of micrococci was divided into the soluble and particulate fractions by differential centrifugation. In the cell-free extracts of Micrococcus citreus and M. pyogenes var. aureus (FDA), the division of the intracellular enzymes into these two fractions was clear, while in M., pyogenes var. aureus (Terashima) the division was not so clear, and in M. pyogenes var. albui the respiratory activity was found to be very low.
2. The particulate fraction had the same color as that of the original cells from which it was extracted.
3. The oxidative enzyme systems for succinate, malate and α-ketoglutarate were combined with the particulate fraction. In M. citreus lactate was oxidized by the soluble fraction, while in M. pyogenes var. aureus (FDA and Terashima) it was oxidized by the particulate fraction. Citrate, iso-citrate, glutamate and alanine were oxidized in the presence of both of the particulate and soluble fractions.
4. The particulate fraction of M. pyogenes var. albus was inactivated by the extraction procedures.
5. Two sorts of granules of 100 to 150mμ were observed in the respiratory active particulate fraction of M. citreus.