Studies on the Oxidative Bacteria. Part 11. The Formation of ce-Ketoglutaric and Pyruvic Acids by Gluconoacetobacter cerinus

Abstract

Among the oxidative metabolic products of glucos, we found α-ketoglutaric acid, and pyruvic acid besides 2-ketogluconic acid in shaking culture of Gluconoacelobacter cerinus. Both acids were separated and identified. As is well known, Pseudomonas or Serratia produce both acids and the oxidative pathway is thought to be glucose→gluconic acid→2-ketogluconic acid→pyruvic acid→α-ketoglutaric acid by Koepsell et al., while with regard to Acetobacter or Gtuconobacier there is found no literature about the formation of these two acids. From the results of our experiments on the chemical change during fermentation, it would be considered that α-ketoglutaric acid might be produced via pyruvic acid and the fact that α-ketoglutaric acid being formed from gluconic acid and 2-ketogluconic acid not only from glucose shows the similar oxidative pathway as in the case of Pseudomonas acts its role in the oxidative, metabolism of Gluconobacter though it being not main route. © 1955, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.