INFLUENCE OF THE PYRUVATE OXIDATION FACTOR ON THE OXIDATIVE METABOLISM OF GLUCOSE BY STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS

Abstract

Glucose is oxidized rapidly by S. faecalis 10 Cl. In the presence of the pyruvate oxidation factor, acetate and CO2 are the main oxidized products produced by cell suspensions. In the absence of the factor, pyruvate accumulates or is removed by acetylmethylcarbinol formation. During growth under aerobic conditions, the same reactions occur but differ quantitatively. The expected amt. of H2O2 does not accumulate during the oxidation. Growth is no greater under aerobic than anaerobic conditions. The strong inhibition by iodoacetate indicates that coenzyme I is involved in the respiration, and a flavin derivative is also implicated by nutritional deficiency experiments.