Gv. Mukamolova et al., PROPERTIES OF DORMANT CELLS IN STATIONARY-PHASE CULTURES OF MICROCOCCUS-LUTEUS DURING PROLONGED INCUBATION, Microbiology, 64(3), 1995, pp. 284-288
A previously discovered phenomenon of dormant cell formation by Microc
occus luteus cultures [9] during prolonged (for 3 to 9 months) station
ary phase was studied. Over this period, there was a decrease in the n
umber of cells capable of forming colonies on solid medium, the total
cell count remaining constant. The rate and the magnitude of this decr
ease depended on cell concentration observed at the beginning of the s
tationary phase and also on the composition of the incubation medium.
Dormant cells were characterized by almost complete lack of endogenous
respiration, a 30 - 50% decrease in cytochrome content, change in pho
spholipid composition, and also deteriorated permeability barrier of t
he cytoplasmic membrane. It was found that the ability of dormant cell
s to resuscitate and turn into normal culturable forms correlates with
the restoration of the permeability barrier and with the lysophosphol
ipid content in membranes.