Localization of adenosine triphosphatase activity in motile bacteria

Abstract

Cytochemical studies on motile bacteria revealed magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity at the membranous sites of flagellar origin. The studies were done on bacteria representing three types of flagellation, namely, peritrichate, lophotrichate, and monotrichate. Escherichia coli and S. serpens showed a uniform distribution of ATPase reaction products throughout the periplasmic space. In B. licheniformis and V. metchnikovii the reaction products were found in the cytoplasm accumulated in areas where flagella originate.