Transformation of some dissolved organic compounds by a natural heterotrophic population

Uptake of radioactively labeled glycolic acid, arginine, glutamic acid, and glycine by natural marine bacterial population was rapid and approached a maximum value which was over 90% of the total substrate. Uptake of glucose was rapid, but had a maximum uptake of less than 80%. All substrates except glycolic acid were assimilated to a similar degree (a maximum of more than 30% of the total given substrate). Glycolic acid had a maximum assimilation of less than 10%. The presence of glycolic acid resulted in no extracellular metabolites detectable on a gel permeation column. Between 5 and 10% of the other substrates were transformed and excreted within 72 h by the bacteria. These exudates were both nominally larger and smaller than the given substrates.NORDA publication number: JA 330:008:80