Intracellular Protein Degradation in a Mesophile and a Thermophile of the Genus Bacillus

Author

Cameron C. Hoover

Date of Award

8-1987

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Dr. Jochanan Stenesh

Second Advisor

Dr. Michael McCarville

Third Advisor

Dr. Dale Warren

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

¹⁴C-leucine was incorporated into th e proteins of the mesophile Bacillus licheniformis and the thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus. Aliquots of the cell suspension were treated with chloramine-T in order to decarboxylate the ¹⁴C-leucine that was released as the proteins degraded. The ¹⁴CO₂ was trapped and counted. This allowed for the determination of the extent of intracellular protein degradation at various tem peratures and at various stages of the growth cun/e. For the mesophile, the extent of degradation increased with temperature from 30° C to 55° C. For the thermophile, no significant amount of degradation occurred until about 30 hours had passed, at which time the extent of degradation increased for the next 24 hours. The results show that slow turnover may be an important characteristic of thermophily.

Recommended Citation

Hoover, Cameron C., "Intracellular Protein Degradation in a Mesophile and a Thermophile of the Genus Bacillus" (1987). Masters Theses. 1265.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1265