Use of Molar Growth Yields for the Evaluation of Energy-Producing Pathways in Lactobacillus plantarum

Abstract

Lactobacillus plantarum (arabinosus) can derive 2 moles of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) per mole of glucose metabolized to lactate via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway (Elsden and Peel, Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 12:145, 1958). Snoswell (Australian J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. 37:49, 1959) suggested that subsequent oxidation of lactate, initiated by a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotideindependent flavoprotein, lactate dehydrogenase, might produce additional ATP via an electrontransport chain. Thus, the low energy yield of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway may be supplemented in this manner. Until recently, there was