CHARACTERIZATION OF REPRESENTATIVE ENZYMES FROM A SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIUM IMPLICATED IN THE CORROSION OF STEEL

This communication reports the isolation, purification and characteriz ation of key enzymes involved in dissimilatory sulfate reduction of a sulfate reducing bacterium classified as Desulfovibrio desulfuricans s ubspecies desulfuricans New Jersey (NCIMB 8313) (Ddd NJ). The chosen s train, originally recovered from a corroding cast iron heat exchanger, was grown in large scale batch cultures. Physico-chemical and spectro scopic studies of the purified enzymes were carried out. These analyse s revealed a high degree of similarity between proteins isolated from the DddNJ strain and the homologous proteins obtained from Desulfomicr obium baculatus Norway 4. In view of the results obtained, taxonomic r eclassification of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans subspecies desulfurican s New Jersey (NCIMB 8313) into Desulfomicrobium baculatus (New Jersey) is proposed. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.