Effect of nutrients and metabolic inhibitors on the growth of spiroplasmas

Glycolytic intermediates replaced glucose as carbohydrate sources in a chemically defined medium CC-494N, whereas keto acids of citric acid cycle intermediates and glyoxylate were supplemented with 10 mM glucose. Glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde, and pyruvate supported limited growth for Spiroplasma floricola (23-6), whereas only pyruvate supported SR 3 spiroplasma and S. melliferum (AS 576). alpha-Ketoglutarate at 5 mM or greater, hematin, 2,4-dinitrophenol, sodium fluoride, and arsenite were dramatically inhibitory, whereas acetic anhydride, tricarballylate, acetylene dicarboxylate, and sodium cyanide were mildly inhibitory at 10 mM or lower. Malonate at 50 mM was not inhibitory.