EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM INCUBATION IN SEAWATER ON THE ABILITY OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI-CELLS TO INCORPORATE HISTIDINE AND MALTOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the capacity of Escherichia coli resting cells suspended for a long period in seawater, to transport ma ltose and histidine. Histidine accumulation was constant throughout th e observation and was probably due to energy-independent mechanisms. M altose transport ability, on the other hand, increased during the firs t 2 weeks of the experiment and then slowly decreased, which suggested that maltose transport could be partly restored, improving survival o f enterobacterial cells in seawater.