Levels of trehalose and glycogen in Arthrobacter globiformis under conditions of nutrient starvation and osmotic stress.

Cells of Arthrobacter globiformis grown in carbohydrate-rich media were found to contain large quantities of low-Mr carbohydrates (800 micrograms/mg protein) and only small amounts of amino acids, in addition to high amounts of glycogen (2 mg/mg protein). At increasing osmotic values of the medium, low-Mr carbohydrate levels increased to 1300 micrograms/mg protein. Low-Mr pools were extracted from the cells with hot 75% ethanol, and subjected to thin layer, gel and gas-liquid chromatography. They turned out to consist mainly of alpha,alpha-trehalose. Levels of trehalose in Arthrobacter cells have the tendency to remain constant, both during nutrient exhaustion (resulting in glycogen consumption), and on addition of excess of carbon source to the medium (resulting in an increased glycogen content of the cells). The stress-tolerant properties of Arthrobacter (resistance to nutrient starvation, desiccation and high salt concentration) are discussed with respect to the high glycogen and trehalose contents of the cells.