Kinetic constant variability in bacterial oxidation of elemental sulfur

Wide ranges of growth yields on sulfur (from 2.4 × 1010 to 8.1 × 1011 cells g−1) and maximum sulfur oxidation rates (from 0.068 to 1.30 mmol liter−1 h−1) of an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain (CCM 4253) were observed in 73 batch cultures. No significant correlation between the constants was observed. Changes of the Michaelis constant for sulfur (from 0.46 to 15.5 mM) in resting cells were also noted.