Electron transport components of the MnO2 reductase system and the location of the terminal reductase in a marine Bacillus.

The response of MnO2 reduction by uninduced and induced whole cells and cell extracts of Bacillus 29 to several electron transport inhibitors was compared. MnO2 reduction with glucose by uninduced whole cells and cell extracts was strongly inhibited at 0.1 mM dicumarol, 100 mM azide, and 8 mM cyanide but not by atebrine or carbon monoxide, suggesting the involvement of a vitamin K--type quinone and a metalloenzyme in the electron transport chain. MnO2 reduction with ferrocyanide by uninduced cell extracts was inhibited by 5 mM cyanide and 100 mM azide but not by atebrine, dicumarol, or carbon monoxide, suggesting that the metalloenzyme was associated with the terminal oxidase activity. MnO2 reduction with glucose by induced whole cells and cell extracts, was inhibited by 1 mM atebrine, 0.1 mM dicumarol, and 10 mM cyanide but not by antimycin A, 2n-nonyl-4-hydroxyguinoline-N-oxide) (NOQNO), 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl),1,3-butanedione, or carbon monoxide. Induced cell extract was also inhibited by 100 mM azide, but stimulated by 1 mM and 10 mM azide. Induced whole cells were stimulated by 10 mM and 100 mM azide. These results suggested that electron transport from glucose to MnO2 in induced cells involved such components as flavoprotein, a vitamin K-type quinone, and metalloenzyme. The stimulatory effect of azide on induced cells was explained on the basis of a branching in the terminal part of the electron transport chain, one branch involving a metalloenzyme for the reduction of MnO2 and the other involving a metalloenzyme for the reduction of oxygen. The latter was assumed to be the more azide sensitive. Spectral studies showed the presence of a-, b-, and c-type cytochromes in membrane but not in soluble fractions. Of these cytochromes, only the c type may be involved in electron transport of MnO2, owing to the lack of inhibition by antimycin A or 2n-nonyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide. The terminal MnO2 reductase appears to be loosely attached to the cell membrane of Bacillus 29 because of cell fractionation it is found associated with both particulate and soluble fractions. Electron photomicrographs of bacilli attached to synthetic Fe-Mn oxide revealed an intimate contact of the cell walls with the oxide particles.