Metabolism of the strict anaerobes (genus: Clostridium)

Abstract

Washed suspensions of Cl. sporogenes, obtained from glucose-containing culture media, were found able to utilize gaseous H2. Proline, oxyproline, glycine, ornithine, arginine, tryptophane, certain aldehydes and ketones and to a lesser extent many other substrates acted as H-acceptors (Warburg-technic). Opt. pH = 7.1. Evidence is given that each of the 6 ammo acids mentioned absorbs 1 mol. H2 per mol. amino acid. Except for proline and oxyproline, which are reduced by opening of the ring bonds, they all underwent reductive deamination. Several substrates acted as donator as well as acceptor and hence gave rise to oxido-reduction reactions in which 1 mol. is oxidized and another is reduced. These reactions were independent of presence of H2 and occurred also as side-reactions accompanying H2-uptake. Serine, cysteine, cystine, methionine, pyruvic acid, glucose and to a lesser extent arginine were actively fermented by washed suspensions of Cl. sporogenes. Glucose was the only substrate from which H2 was evolved.