Oxygen uptake by Treponema pallidum.

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  • 1 July 1974
    • journal article
    • Vol. 10  (1) , 123-7
Abstract
Virulent Treponema pallidum has been shown to consume O(2) at a rate similar to that of the known aerobic spirochaete, Leptospira. Such O(2) uptake is cyanide sensitive, indicating a functioning cytochrome oxidase. Inhibition of O(2) uptake by azide, chlorpromazine, and amytal further suggests a functioning electron transport system for the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced) to O(2). Evidence is consistent with the probability that this terminal electron-transport system is coupled to oxidative phosphorylation. The potential significance of these findings is discussed.