SYNTHESIS OF CELLULOSE FROM PYRUVATE BY SUCCINATE-GROWN CELLS OF ACETOBACTER XYLINUM

Abstract
Pyruvate was converted into cellulose by succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum. With pyruvate-1-, 2- or 314 as substrate, the upper half of the cellulose monomer mirrored the lower half both as to total content and distribution of C14 . In each case about 75% of the total radioactivity of the cellulose monomer was found in two carbon atoms (carbon pairs 3:4, 2:5 and 1:6 derived from pyruvate-1-, 2- and 3-C14 respectively,). The carbonyl carbon of pyruvate contributed 2 equivalents to the cellulose monomer compared -with 1.4 and 2.8 equivalents contributed by the pyruvate carboxyl and methyl carbons respectively. Cellulose formed in the presence of pyruvate and C14O2 was nonradioactive. The results suggest that the carbon chain of the cellulose monomer is formed in these cells via a condensation involving two molecules of a three-carbon compound. Reactions involving pyruvate which could account for the observed distribution of C14 in cellulose are discussed.