Phytate as the Sole Phosphate Source for Growth of Tetrahymena

• Published in: The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 428 - 431
• Main Authors: ZIEMKIEWICZ, HOPE T, JOHNSON, MARGARET D, SMITH-SOMERVILLE, HARRIETT E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2002; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heterotrophic protist; myo-inositol hexakisphosphate; Phosphates - metabolism; phytate; Phytic Acid - metabolism; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Tetrahymena; Tetrahymena - growth & development; Assimilation; Cell proliferation; Phosphates; Protozoa; Cell culture; Seeds; Environmental factor; Experimental study; In vitro; Phytic acid; Aquatic environment; Tetrahymena; Seed; Plant origin; Nutrient; Ciliata; Zooplankton
• ISSN: 1066-5234; 1550-7408
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2002.tb00223.x

Phytate, the storage form of phosphate in seeds and grains, is a major form of environmental phosphate loading from fertilizer inputs and agricultural runoff. We have investigated the ability of Tetrahymena populations to grow on phytate as their sole phosphate source. Populations grew equally well in chemically defined medium with phosphate and medium in which the phosphate was replaced with phytate in comparable concentrations between 0.5 mM and 6 mM. Intracellular phytate concentrations of cells grown in phytate showed a 4–6-fold increase over those grown in phosphate when measured during the late stage of exponential growth. These results demonstrate that phytate can provide a source of adequate phosphate for sustained growth in phytate-rich environments.