Carbon dioxide fixation in green sulphur bacteria

Abstract

1. About one-third of the CO2 fixed during photosynthesis by washed suspensions of Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum strain 8346 gave rise to α-oxoglutarate and branched-chain oxo acids, mainly β-methyl-α-oxovalerate. Another one-third to one-half gave rise to a polyglucose. 2. The fixation of CO2 was inhibited by fluoroacetate, increasing concentrations up to 1mm stimulating the accumulation of α-oxoglutarate and causing a decrease in the formation of the branched-chain oxo acids and polyglucose. 3. Acetate was converted into the same products as was CO2. 4. Fluoroacetate (1mm) had a negligible effect on the formation of polyglucose from acetate and caused a slight inhibition of the formation of the branched-chain oxo acids and increased accumulation of α-oxoglutarate. 5. Iodoacetate (1mm) strongly inhibited polyglucose formation from acetate and caused accumulation of pyruvate. The formation of the branched-chain oxo acids from acetate was only slightly affected by this inhibitor. 6. Pyruvate can be metabolized by this organism in the presence of a suitable electron donor whether CO2 is present or not. In the absence of CO2 pyruvate is converted into polyglucose. 7. The accumulation of oxo acids during CO2 fixation is completely inhibited by NH4+ ions. The formation of the branched-chain oxo acids is considerably decreased by the presence of isoleucine, leucine or valine, or a mixture of these. 8. CO2 fixation in two other strains of Chlorobium appears to exhibit a similar pattern to that in C. thiosulfatophilum strain 8346. 9. It is concluded that in washed suspensions, CO2 is fixed mainly by a mechanism involving the reductive carboxylic acid cycle. Acetate, the product of the cycle, is converted into polyglucose via pyruvate synthase and a reversal of glycolysis or into branched-chain oxo acids by an unknown mechanism.