Biochemistry and physiology of mycobacterial adaptations to energy starvation

Soils are challenging environments for microbial life, as the availability of resources can be constantly changing, and starvation is an ever-present threat. Many microbes enter dormancy in response to starvation. In this thesis the biochemical and physiological basis of dormancy is investigated in the soil bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis. It is found that M. smegmatis uses a previously uncharacterised gene to help consume carbon monoxide from the atmosphere during starvation. During oxygen depletion, M. smegmatis enters dormancy, builds carbon stores, produces hydrogen and consumes it again when conditions are right. These findings have broad ecological and biogeochemical implications.