THE INTERMEDIATE METABOLISM OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA: II. LIMITATIONS OF SIMULTANEOUS ADAPTATION AS APPLIED TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF ACETIC ACID, AN INTERMEDIATE IN GLUCOSE OXIDATION

Abstract

Acetic acid has been isolated as an intermediate compound in the oxidation of glucose or α-ketoglutaric acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cells of this organism produced under conditions of intense aeration were found to have lost the ability to oxidize acetic acid and this compound was found in large quantities in the growth medium. When these cells were used to carry out the oxidation of glucose, it was found that the oxygen consumed was the amount needed to convert glucose to acetic acid, thus confirming the role of acetate as an intermediate in glucose oxidation. In contrast to the above-mentioned criteria the technique of simultaneous adaptation ruled out acetic acid as a possible intermediate in the oxidation of either glucose or α-ketoglutaric acid. The status of the theory of simultaneous adaptation is discussed in relation to the data obtained.