TERMINAL OXIDASES OF THE METHYLAMINE-UTILIZING STRAIN METHYLOBACILLUS-FLAGELLATUM KT

Raising the copper concentration from 0.04 to 1 mg/l in a batch cultur e of the obligate methylotroph Methylobacillus flagellatum KT grown on methylamine led to the induction of amycyanine synthesis. The appeara nce of an additional electron carrier in the respiratory chain enhance d the oxidase activity of both whole cells and their membrane preparat ions. Inhibitory analysis indicated that, in cells grown at low and hi gh copper concentrations in the medium, electron transfer to oxygen pr imarily occurred through cytochrome oxidases o and o', respectively. A putative scheme of the modification of the methylamine-oxidizing syst em of M. flagellatum KT in response to an elevated copper content is p roposed.