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Carbon Catabolite Repression-Independent and pH-Dependent Production of Indoles by Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus JA2

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Abstract

Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus JA2 produces indole derivatives (indoles) from aniline, anthranilate or l-tryptophan. Glucose repressed indole production in R. benzoatilyticus JA2, while malate had no effect. Growth of R. benzoatilyticus JA2 on glucose resulted in decrease in culture pH (6.4) compared with malate (8.4). Growth of R. benzoatilyticus JA2 on sugar carbon sources decreased culture pH (6.4–6.6) and indole production. Further, culture pH of 6.4 repressed the indole production, and pH 8.4 promoted the production irrespective of carbon sources used for growth. Moreover, correlation between indole production and culture pH was observed, where acidic pH inhibited indole production, while alkaline pH promoted the production, suggesting the role of pH in indole production. Tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme activities are significantly high in malate-grown cultures (pH 8.4) compared with that of the glucose (pH 6.4)-grown cultures and corroborated well with indole production, indicating their role in indole production. These results confirm that indole production in R. benzoatilyticus JA2 is pH dependent rather than carbon catabolite repression.

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Acknowledgments

Mujahid. Md thanks CSIR, Government of India, for the award of JRF. Facilities used under the FIST and CAS supported by DST and UGC, Government of India, respectively, are duly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, P.O. Central University, Hyderabad, 500 046, India

    Md. Mujahid & Ch. V. Ramana

  2. Bacterial Discovery Laboratory, Center for Environment, IST, JNT University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, 500 085, India

    Ch. Sasikala

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  1. Md. Mujahid
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Correspondence to Ch. V. Ramana.

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Mujahid, M., Sasikala, C. & Ramana, C.V. Carbon Catabolite Repression-Independent and pH-Dependent Production of Indoles by Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus JA2. Curr Microbiol 67, 399–405 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-013-0378-6

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