Non-growing rhodopseudomonas palustris increases the hydrogen gas yield from acetate by shifting from the glyoxylate shunt to the tricarboxylic acid cycle

Abstract

Background: The metabolism of non-growing microbes is poorly understood. Results: In a nitrogen-starved and non-growing photoheterotrophic bacterium, metabolic flow was diverted to mobilize electrons for H2 production. Conclusion: During starvation bacteria decouple their metabolism from biosynthesis. Significance: An understanding of metabolic activities of non-growing cells can be used to engineer improved biocatalysts. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.