NICKEL AND ACETOGENIC AUTOTROPHIC METABOLISM

镍是一种对哺乳动物健康很重要的生物活性微量金属， 因为有许多专性厌氧细菌， 肠道微环境 拟议的研究中心进一步 解决i）产乙酸中镍的生物化学/生物学性质 细菌，和ii）该生物群体的自养代谢。 具体来说，我们计划继续研究生物化学， 镍酶，一氧化碳脱氢酶， 并表征产乙酸氢化酶。 进一步分析 对这些酶的调节将有助于了解它们的生理特性。 作用，和抗体（兔）对这些催化剂将被用作 特异性探针以帮助这种阐明。 此外，纯化 最近发现的金属镍蛋白（目前功能未知） 将进行镍的运输和遗传学研究， 产乙酸细菌 最近开发的最低限度确定的培养基将 为后一项工作提供便利。 由于产乙酸菌是专性厌氧菌， 对氧化、厌氧培养和净化敏感 将在整个调查过程中使用这些程序。

Nickel is a biologically active trace metal important to mammalian health, as are numerous obligately anaerobic bacteria which inhabit the microintestinal environment. The proposed study centers on further resolving i) the biochemical/biological nature of nickel in acetogenic bacteria, and ii) the autotrophic metabolism of this biological group. Specifically, we plan to continue our studies on the biochemistry and physiological function of the nickel enzyme, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, and to characterize acetogenic hydrogenase. Further analyses on the regulation of these enzymes will yield insights into their physiological roles, and antibodies (rabbit) against these catalysts will be used as specific probes to aid in this elucidation. Additionally, purification of recently discovered metallo nickel proteins (currently of unknown function) will be undertaken, as will studies on nickel transport and the genetics of acetogenic bacteria. A recently developed minimally defined medium will facilitate this latter work. Since acetogens are obligate anaerobes and are sensitive to oxidation, anaerobic cultivation and purification procedures will be utilized throughout the investigation.