[Growth of Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii on media with various sulfur compounds]

Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii, strain 1, can use thiosulphate, sulphide, sulphite, sulphate, cystein, methionine and glutathione as a source of sulphur during its growth in the light and in the dark. Thiosulphate, sulphide and sulphite are used by the bacterium also as electron donors in photosynthesis so that it can grow in anaerobic autotrophic conditions. Growth of the cultures in the presence of various sulphur compounds depends on the concentration of sodium and potassium salts in the medium, particularly when the bacteria grow in the light and in the dark under aerobic conditions in the presence of such sulphur sources as sulphate, cysteine or methionine. The cells of E. shaposhnikovii produce thiosulphate reductase independent of a source of sulphur and growth conditions. The activity of sulphite reductase can be detected when the cells are cultivated in the presence of sulphates. The activity of APS-reductase has not been found in the cells grown under different conditions.