Role of Cations in Accumulation and Release of Phosphate by Acinetobacter Strain 210A

Cells of the strictly aerobic Acinetobacter strain 210A, containing aerobically large amounts of polyphosphate (100 mg of phosphorus per g [dry weight] of biomass), released in the absence of oxygen 1.49 mmol of P_i, 0.77 meq of Mg²⁺, 0.48 meq of K⁺, 0.02 meq of Ca²⁺, and 0.14 meq of NH₄⁺ per g (dry weight) of biomass. The drop in pH during this anaerobic phase was caused by the release of 1.8 protons per PO₄³⁻ molecule. Cells of Acinetobacter strain 132, which do not accumulate polyphosphate aerobically, released only 0.33 mmol of P_i and 0.13 meq of Mg²⁺ per g (dry weight) of biomass but released K⁺ in amounts comparable to those released by strain 210A. Stationary-phase cultures of Acinetobacter strain 210A, in which polyphosphate could not be detected by Neisser staining, aerobically took up phosphate simultaneously with Mg²⁺, the most important counterion in polyphosphate. In the absence of dissolved phosphate in the medium, no Mg²⁺ was taken up. Cells containing polyphosphate granules were able to grow in a Mg-free medium, whereas cells without these granules were not. Mg²⁺ was not essential as a counterion because it could be replaced by Ca²⁺. The presence of small amounts of K⁺ was essential for polyphosphate formation in cells of strain 210A. During continuous cultivation under K⁺ limitation, cells of Acinetobacter strain 210A contained only 14 mg of phosphorus per g (dry weight) of biomass, whereas this element was accumulated in amounts of 59 mg/g under substrate limitation and 41 mg/g under Mg²⁺ limitation. For phosphate uptake in activated sludge, the presence of K⁺ seemed to be crucial.