VOLUTIN PRODUCTION IN AEROBACTER AEROGENES DUE TO NUTRIENT IMBALANCE

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Abstract
Volutin is produced by A. aerogenes when grown under certain conditions of nutrient imbalance in cultures buffered near neutrality; (1) small amts. are produced in the later stages of growths limited by exhaustion of the N or S source, and (2) large amts. are produced in early subcultures of cells previously starved of phosphate. Volutin synthesis requires the presence of an energy source, phosphate, K and Mg ions. Light- and electron-microscopic observations show that the volutin granules do not correspond with the nuclear bodies or with the granules stained with tetrazolium salts. The P compounds of the cell were fractionated and estimated. As compared with the volutin-free cells, the volutin-containing cells show an increase in total P content relative to total N content. The trichloracetic acid-insoluble inorganic metaphosphate fraction shows a much larger relative increase than the other fractions and appears to be the substance responsible for volutin staining.