Position of C14 in Alcohol and Carbon Dioxide Formed from Labeled Glucose by Corn Root Tips.

Abstract

From experiments on the fermentation of glucose-1-C14 by corn root tips, which produce alcohol and CO2, the following has been found. 1. Carbon atom 1 (aldehyde carbon) of glucose gave rise to the methyl carbon of ethanol. 2. Both the carbinol carbon of alcohol and the CO2 contained only traces of the isotope. From experiments on the oxidation of glucose-1-C14, glucose-2-Cl4 and glucose-3,4-Cl4 by corn root tips in which aerobic fermentation was induced by arsenite and evidenced by alcohol formation, the following has been found: 1. glucose-l-Cl4 yielded methyl labeled ethanol. 2. glucose-2-C14 gave rise to carbinol labeled ethanol. 3. glucose-3,4-Cl4 yielded unlabeled ethanol. These results are compatible with the conclusion that glucose is dissimilated by corn root tips anaerobically as well as aerobically via the classical glycolytic sequence of reactions (Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway).