CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN HYDROGENOMONAS EUTROPHA

Abstract

Fructose was found to be the only carbohydrate of the 12 tested that can be utilized as a carbon and an energy source by Hydrogenomonas eutropha although glucose, ribose, xylose, and arabinose were isolated from the spent medium on which this organism had grown. This organism can adapt to fructose under an air atmosphere as well as under an H₂-O₂-CO₂atmosphere.Fructose-grown cells of H. eutropha oxidize fructose almost completely to CO₂and water whereas autotrophically grown cells exhibit a respiratory quotient of about one-half of the theoretical value.H. eutropha grew on "autoclaved glucose" medium although the cells failed to oxidize glucose in resting cell experiments. Apparently, these cells were growing at the expense of fructose formed from the glucose during autoclaving.