Abstract
Summary
Benzimidazole and 2-ethyl-5-methyl benzimidazole inhibited the growth of 2 B12-requiring algae, Euglena gracilis, strain Z, and Ochromonas malhamensis, and of 4 B12-synthesizing bacteria, Rhizobium meliloti, R. trifolii, R. leguminosarum, and R. japonicum. Benzimidazole inhibition was complete at 5 × 10-3M concentration. The 2-ethyl-5-methyl compound inhibited the algae at 5 × 10-3M concentration; rhizobia were more sensitive. Although benzimidazole inhibition of E. gracilis was not competitive, there was, at a 108:1 ratio of inhibitor to vitamin, a relation to amount of growth which could be expressed graphically as a straight line.
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