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M ALEXANDER

Publications and source records attributed to M ALEXANDER.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nitrification by Aspergillus flavus.

Marshall, K. C. (Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.) and M. Alexander. Nitrification by Aspergillus flavus. J. Bacteriol. 83:572-578. 1962.-Aspergillus flavus has been shown to produce bound hydroxylamine, nitrite, and nitrate when grown in peptone, amino acid, or buffered ammonium media. Free hydroxylamine was not detected in these cultures, but it was found in an unbuffered ammonium medium in which neither nitrite nor nitrate was formed. Evidence was obtained for the presence of beta-nitropropionic acid in the filtrate of an actively nitrifying culture. Alumina treatment of an ammonium medium prevented the formation by growing cultures of nitrite and nitrate but not bound hydroxylamine. The effect of alumina treatment was reversed by the addition of 10(-3)m CeCl(3) to the medium. Extracts of the fungus contained peroxidase and an enzyme capable of catalyzing the production of nitrite from beta-nitropropionic acid. The nitrite-forming enzyme is apparently specific for beta-nitropropionate; no activity was found with nitromethane, nitroethane, and nitropropane as substrates. Nitrate was not reduced to nitrite nor was nitrite oxidized to nitrate by the hyphal extracts. The significance of these observations in nitrification by A. flavus is discussed.

Amino Acids↗

Localization of enzymes in the mycelium and microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum.

Maruyama, Yoshiharu (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.) and Martin Alexander. Localization of enzymes in the mycelium and microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum. J. Bacteriol. 84:307-312. 1962-Extracts prepared from mycelium and microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum f. cubense were fractionated into a soluble and four particulate fractions by differential centrifugation, and the distribution of several enzymes in the isolated cell constituents was examined. Succinic dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, and a large amount of the reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) cytochrome c reductase and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide cytochrome c reductase were associated with one of the particulate fractions prepared from the hyphae; fumarase and DPNH oxidase activities were largely found in the soluble and in a second particulate fraction. The highest recovery and concentration of diphosphopyridine nucleotidase was observed to be bound to a third type of hyphal granule. Aldolase, aconitase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and uricase were recovered entirely with the soluble mycelium constituents. Similar enzyme-distribution patterns were observed in microconidia. Several enzymatic activities of the mycelial extracts were compared with those in the extracts of microconidia.

Enzymes↗

Formation of nitrite and nitrate by actinomycetes and fungi.

Hirsch, P. (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York), L. Overrein, and M. Alexander. Formation of nitrite and nitrate by actinomycetes and fungi. J. Bacteriol. 82:442-448. 1961.-Nitrite was produced by strains of Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Streptomyces, Micromonospora, and Streptosporangium in media containing ammonium phosphate as the sole nitrogen source. The quantity of nitrite formed was small, and the concentration was affected by pH and by the relative levels of carbon and nitrogen. Aspergillus flavus produced little nitrite from ammonium but formed in excess of 100 parts per million of nitrate-nitrogen. Peroxidase activity and heterotrophic nitrification were reduced in acid conditions, but mycelial development of the fungus was not markedly affected. The inability of A. flavus to form nitrate and nitrite at low pH appears to result from a selective effect of pH upon nitrification rather than being a consequence of the decomposition of nitrogenous intermediates.

Actinobacteria↗