THE INTERMEDIATE METABOLISM OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA: III. THE APPLICATION OF PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF GLUCONIC AND 2-KETOGLUCONIC ACIDS, INTERMEDIATES IN GLUCOSE OXIDATION

Abstract

The technique of paper chromatography has been adapted to the identification of gluconic, 2-ketogluconic, and alpha-ketoglutaric acids. Combinations of methyl and ethyl alcohol were the most suitable solvents and ammoniacal AgNO3 gave the most satisfactory reaction. When grown under normal physiological conditions where glucose was metabolized to CO2 and water, P. aeruginosa 9027 oxidized glucose by way of gluconic and 2-ketogluconic acids. Since a strong system for oxidizing both gluconic and 2-ketogluconic acids was demonstrat-ed, the presence of these acids over at least an 8-hr. period of growth is taken as evidence of their importance as inter-mediates in the oxidation of glucose by this organism.