COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE HYDROGEN BACTERIA I

Abstract

The observation of Kluyver and Manten (B. A. 21: entry 1184. 1947) that hydrogen bacteria can oxidize H2 and an organic substrate simultaneously is confirmed. A strain of Hydrogenomonas facilis derived from a single cell was grown autotrophically, heterotrophically, and in the presence of both H2 and organic substrate. Cells from these cultures suspended in phosphate buffer oxidize H2 and lactate simultaneously, with lactate disappearing during the reaction. Evidence is presented to show that the suspensions of cells used were composed of truly facultative organisms and not mixtures of autotrophs and heterotrophs.