The respiratory system of the marine bacterium Beneckea natriegens. I. Cytochrome composition

(1) The cytochrome composition of Beneckea natriegens grown under aerobic conditions has been examined. (2) Cell-free extracts obtained by sonication were separated into particulate and supernatant fractions by centrifugation at 150,000 x g. (3) The particulate fraction contained cytochromes b562, b557, b or c554, c549.5, c547, and low concentrations of cytochromes a1 and a2. (Subscripts refer to the wavelength optima of the b and c type cytochrome alpha-peaks in low temperature (77 degrees K) difference spectra.) Also present was a second cytochrome c549.5 which is capable of binding carbon monoxide (cytochrome c549.5(CO)) and which is also found in the supernatant fraction. (4) Reduced plus CO minus reduced difference spectra had spectral peaks corresponding to cytochrome o and two c type cytochromes, and low concentrations of cytochromes a1 and a2. (5) Action spectra for the relief of CO inhibition showed that cytochrome a2, the CO binding c type cytochrome(s) and possibly cytochrome o, but not cytochrome a1, had oxidase activity in intact cells. In cells grown to the late stationary phase, when cytochrome a2 and particularly cytochrome a1 were induced, the primary functual oxidase was cytochrome a1.