CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM BY LEUGONOSTOC MESENTEROIDES

Abstract

Sixty-six carbohydrates were surveyed as potential substrates for Leuconostoc mesenteroides, PRL L33. A significant amount of 12 of 43 sugars, none of 10 sugar alcohols, and two of 13 sugar acids were utilized under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. In addition, acid was produced from a number of the sugars that were not metabolized appreciably. Although the organism has a limited substrate specificity, no essential configurational pattern was observed. Carbon balance studies with K-D-gluconate and K-2-keto-D-gluconate showed that the metabolic products were equimolar amounts of carbon dioxide, lactate, and ethanol plus acetate. Similar products were formed from D-fructose but in addition D-mannitol was produced.