STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF ACETATE OXIDATION BY BACTERIA

Abstract

1. Simultaneous oxidation of C14-methyl-labeled acetate, and unlabeled malate or fumarate and α-ketoglutarate results in entrapment of labeled carbon in the C4-dicarboxylic acids, but not in α-ketoglutarate, although all substrates are utilized at comparable rates. 2. A large endogenous reduction of all C4-dicarboxylic acids (fumarate, oxalacetate, and malate) to succinate is observed under aerobic conditions, and when vigorous oxidation is proceeding. This effect occurs with both freshly harvested young (18 hour) cells and stored (2 week) cells. 3. This reduction can be considerably minimized under high oxygen tensions. 4. The quantitative concordance of these results with a Thunberg-Knoop cyclic mechanism for acetate oxidation is shown. Possible alternative C4 products formed prior to succinate are not completely excluded, but it appears that the cells can utilize the succinate condensation as a major pathway in acetate oxidation.