Formation of thiosulfate from sulfite by Desulfovibrio vulgaris.

Crude extracts of Desulfovibrio vulgaris reduced sulfite to sulfide. Ammonium sulfate fractionation of crude extracts separated a thiosulfate-forming system from sulfite- and thiosulfate-reductase activities. Further purification by sucrose density centrifugation separated the thiosulfate-forming system into two components, both of which were required for the reaction. In addition to these two components, cytochrome c(3), ferredoxin, and hydrogenase were required to form thiosulfate from sulfite. By absorption spectra and from the effect of pH and substrate concentration, the ionic species acting as the substrate for thiosulfate-formation was concluded to be bisulfite.