Abstract
Summary
Oxygen consumption by washed cells of Bacillus subtilis respiring in the presence of glucose and by cells growing in Tryp-ticase Soy Broth was inhibited by rabbit and human serum. The inhibition of respiration was markedly enhanced after serum was dia-lyzed. Both ferrous and ferric acid salts reversed serum inhibited respiration. Only ferric ammonium citrate reversed serum inhibited growth. Although 7S-gamma globulin was previously shown to be a potent inhibitor of growth, it did not inhibit respiration. Beta 2a globulin was the only protein common to the 3 inhibitory plasma protein fractions, and appeared to be one inhibitor of respiration. However, the inability of added iron to reverse the antirespiratory activity of these inhibitory protein fractions and of dialyzed serum indicates a role for at least one additional serum inhibitor of respiration which is as yet unknown.
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