Protection of cell viability and respiratory quinone levels by carotenoid in Micrococcus lysodeikticus (M. luteus).

Viability and respiratory activity of post-exponential phase cultures of Micrococcus lysodeikticus (M. luteus) decreased with time more rapidly in carotenoidless mutants than in a parent pigmented strain. The concentration of menaquinone, the respiratory quinone, was found to be low in carotenoidless mutants and in cultures of the pigmented strain where carotenoid synthesis had been partially blocked by diphenylamine. Cell suspensions incorporated [2-14C]mevalonate into menaquinone. Carotenoidless strains incorporated label at substantially higher rates than did the pigmented wild-type strain. Gently prepared membranes of M. lysodeikticus also incorporated mevalonate into menaquinone suggesting that the enzymes for the isoprenoid pathway are bound (loosely) to the membrane. Carotenoidless membranes with low concentrations of menaquinone incorporated radioactivity from [2-14C]mevalonate into quinone more rapidly than did membranes from the wild-type. Azide inhibited the incorporation but n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinolone-N-oxide did not. It is concluded that the low concentrations of menaquinone in carotenoidless strains are due to rapid breakdown of the quinone. Carotenoid is therefore seen as protecting menaquinone from breakdown by factors as yet unidentified.