DISSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE AT CONTROLLED pH VALUES BY PIGMENTED AND NON-PIGMENTED STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Carbon balances of the products of glucose metabolism at various pH values by pigmented and non-pigmented strains of E. coli show that these organisms have similar metabolic pathways. Ethanol, acetic and lactic acids, CO2, and H2 are the major products at an acid pH, while at an alkaline pH formic acid is a major product. On the basis of carbohydrate metabolism, the chromo-genic strains are indistinguishable from E. coli and their recent reclassification as E. aurescens (Parr) comb. nov. appears to be satisfactory.