Aspects of mycobacterial response to beryllate ions in vitro

Comparative growth measurements of the mycobacterial species Mycobacterium phlei and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were carried out with liquid cultures supplemented with oxalatoberyllate ions in the concentration range 0-120 microM Be. For both species, the effect of beryllium on specific growth parameters can be represented by a Be concentration-dependent, exponential expression. Evidence for beryllium binding to cellular phospholipids (approximately 15% of Be uptake) is provided by 31P NMR spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography and atomic absorption spectrometry.