Detection of polyphosphates and enzymes of polyphosphate metabolism in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus cells, parasitizing in E. coli, contain a considerable amount of inorganic polyphosphates, 55% of the total pool of which is due to the most polymeric acid-insoluble polyphosphates. B. bacteriovorus contains enzymes participating both in the synthesis and consumption of polyphosphates, i.e. 1,3-diphosphoglycerate: polyphosphate phosphotransferase, polyphosphate glucokinase, polyphosphatase, tripolyphosphatase, pyrophosphatase, acid and alkaline phosphatases. The possible role of high-molecular polyphosphates in the vital activity of the bacterial parasite B. bacteriovorus is discussed.