2 ms·
empty in terms of normal cell components, apparently it stores relatively huge amounts of nitrates that are a necessary energy source for it
by trumpdong 4mo ago
empty in terms of normal cell components, apparently it stores relatively huge amounts of nitrates that are a necessary energy source for it
- magicalhippo 4mo agoRather large gas tank: Collected and stored sediment samples were found to have surviving T. namibiensis cells after over two years. The cells had no access to any added sulfide or nitrate during this time. In the surviving cells, there was a notable size decrease. To survive without growing the cells depended on the nutrient stores of the central vacuoles.
- trumpdong 4mo agoIndeed. It says they rely on two different substances which normally don't mix (nitrates and sulfites), presumably because if they were both present at the same time they'd react with each other directly without the bacterium extracting any energy from that. So they live in places that sometimes have one and sometimes the other, and have to store one of them until the other comes along, which can be years. Or that's how I read it.