Heavy Water as Medium for the Life of Organisms

Abstract

The nature of biological adaptation to deuterium oxide on an example of cells of various taxonomic groups of prokaryotic and eucaryotic microorganisms realizing methylotrophic, chemoheterotrophic, photo-organotrophic, and photosynthetic ways of assimilation of carbon substrates was discussed. It was demonstrated that the effects observed at adaptation to ²H₂O, possess a complex multifactorial character and connected to cytological, morphological and physiological changes – the magnitude of the lag- period, time of cellular generation, output of biomass, a parity ratio of synthesized amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, and also with an evolutionary level of the organization of the investigated object and the pathways of assimilation of carbon substrates as well. These data suggest that adaptation to deuterium oxide is a multifactorial phenomenon, affecting many cellular systems, as biosynthesis of macromolecules, metabolism and cellular transport.

Key words: deuterium, deuterium oxide, adaptation, isotopic effects, bacteria, micro algae.