Survival of Microorganisms and Bacterial Predation and Competition in Nature
Abstract
In general, both predator and prey bacterial species in soil are dormant much of the time. This seems to be a means of avoiding starvation, desiccation, and predation. For many species of soil bacteria, the breaking of dormancy is controlled by small amounts of either magnesium or copper. The cells need the metal to allow breaking of dormancy. However, there usually isn't enough of the respective metal that is readily available in the environment. Therefore, the cells produce a specific peptide growth initiation factor (GIF) which chelates the respective metal (scavenges if from the environment) to make it available to the cells. The cells then break dormancy and start growth. The cells do not need the GIF for their growth, however: only to initiate growth. (JES)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222771
Entities
People
- L. E. Casida Jr
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University