Treatment with allyl alcohol selects specifically for mutants of Clostridium acetobutylicum defective in butanol synthesis

Abstract

Treatment of Clostridium acetobutylicum with allyl alcohol allowed the selection of mutants which were unable to produce n-butanol, whereas the synthesis of acetone and ethanol was unaffected. Enzymatic investigations revealed that all mutant strains were devoid of butyraldehyde dehydrogenase or showed a very low activity of this enzyme as compared to the wild type. © 1986.