Effect of Temperature on Synthesis of Polyphosphates in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes under Starvation Conditions

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L. S. Buzoleva^*, A. M. Krivosheeva, A. S. Isachenko, L. M. Somova, and G. P. Somov

Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sel'skaya 1, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; fax: 7 (4232) 452-327; E-mail: buzoleva@mail.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received March 3, 2005

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It was found that at low temperature (6-8°C) in the absence of nitrogen supply and at the presence of phosphate ions in the medium, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes are able to actively synthesize reserve substances as polyphosphates. Most of the bacterial polyphosphates are alkali-soluble, especially at the preliminary stage of cell growth (lag-phase). This is proved by electron microscopic studies of ultrastructure of model microorganisms. During a long starvation period under conditions of carbon and energy source deficit, L. monocytogenes and Y. pseudotuberculosis consume this biopolymer for biosynthetic and bioenergetic processes.

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KEY WORDS: Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes, polyphosphates, starvation conditions, temperature, ultrastructure

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297906040122

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