THE OXIDATION OF FATTY ACIDS BY NEISSERIA CATARRHALIS

Abstract

Using Warburg''s "direct method" for oxygen uptake, it was found that N. catarrhalis very actively oxidized the even-numbered carbon fatty acids from acetate through laurate. The similarity of rates and degrees of oxidation suggested a common metabolic mechanism. Of the odd-numbered carbon fatty acids, formate was not oxidized and propionate was oxidized at a markedly slower rate and to a greater degree than the even-numbered carbon fatty acids. Valerate and heptoate in the early stages of oxidation had rates comparable to the even-numbered carbon fatty acids, but later had rates paralleling that of propionate. This indicated that propionate was a probable intermediate in the oxidation of these odd-numbered carbon fatty acids. With prepns. of cells showing negligible endogenous respiration, the rate of propionate oxidation was shown to be considerably stimulated by small quantities of acetate, evidence that acetate or a product of acetate was involved in propionate oxidation.