Utilization of alcohols by rhodopseudomonas sp. No. 7 isolated from n-propanol-enrichment cultures

Abstract

A purple non-sulfur bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas sp. No. 7, was isolated from n-propanol- enrichment cultures under anaerobic-light conditions. Strain No. 7 can produce hydrogen from alcohols. The rate of hydrogen production from w-propanol was 34μl/hr/mg dry cells. Strain No. 7 showed multiplication by budding and the best growth on n-propanol among other organic compounds tested. But its growth on n-propanol was poor under aerobic-dark conditions. NAD- linked alcohol dehydrogenase, NAD-linked aldehyde dehydrogenase, acyl-CoA synthetase and malate synthetase were found in strain No. 7. These enzymes were constitutive. On the other hand, isocitrate lyase was induced in cells grown on ethanol but not on n-propanol. No activity of phenazine methosulfate-linked alcohol dehydrogenase was detected in strain No. 7. © 1983, by the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan.