Reproduction and metabolism at − 10°C of bacteria isolated from Siberian permafrost

Abstract

Summary We report the isolation and properties of several species of bacteria from Siberian permafrost. Half of the isolates were spore‐forming bacteria unable to grow or metabolize at subzero temperatures. Other Gram‐positive isolates metabolized, but never exhibited any growth at − 10°C. One Gram‐negative isolate metabolized and grew at − 10°C, with a measured doubling time of 39 days. Metabolic studies of several isolates suggested that as temperature decreased below + 4°C, the partitioning of energy changes with much more energy being used for cell maintenance as the temperature decreases. In addition, cells grown at − 10°C exhibited major morphological changes at the ultrastructural level.

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