Response of pigmented Serratia marcescens to the illumination.

Variations in the illumination conditions (light/darkness) affected both the biosynthesis of prodigiosin and energy metabolism of the pigmented strain ATCC 9986 Serratia marcescens growing aerobical in the batch culture were shown. In the process incubation the transition of the pigmented culture from illumination within (24 h, 48 h) in the dark conditions increased the prodigiosin synthesis by 2.0, 2.5 times, respectively. At the same time, the illumination did not influence the prodigiosin biosynthesis in the stationary growth phase. In the initial period of prodigiosin synthesis the rate of oxygen consumption was higher than later when the pigment synthesis gradually decreased. The respiration activity of colorless strain 24-5 is not independent from the lighting conditions. The regulation of energetic pathways in the light and in darkness has been revealed. Prodigiosin is associated with the hydrophobic protein and it is represented pigment protein complex by diameter of particles less 100 kDa. Fluorescence spectrum of prodigiosin and it the absorption spectra of derivatives of high orders D(IV) and D(VIII) were described.
(Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)