Metabolism of mycobacteria.

The metabolism of mycobacteria have been studied with reference to carbohydrate, lipids, nitrogen metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Some of the enzymes of glycolytic pathway, tricarboxylic acid cycle and lypogenic enzymes were purified, characterized and their kinetic properties investigated. The effect of age of the culture and environmental factors on different aspects of metabolism of mycobacteria were also studied. A comparison of lipid profile in various species of mycobacteria grown in different culture conditions were made. The metabolism of spheroplasts isolated from mycobacteria has been established with respect to their energy charge and to synthesize peptidoglycan using D-alanine as the precursor.