AN ANOMALOUS TRICARBOXYLIC ACID CYCLE IN ACETOBACTER MELANOGENUM

Abstract

Extracts of gluconate-grown Acetobacter melanogenum contain condensing enzyme and DPN-isocitric dehydrogenase of low specific activity. No evidence could be found for the presence of phosphotransacetylase, aconitase, or TPN-isocitric dehydrogenase. Since the organism or its extracts cannot synthesize the necessary four carbon compounds from pyruvate and from acetate, it is concluded that the tricarboxylic acid cycle does not function in extracts of this organism in the usually accepted manner.The pyruvic oxidase system was found to be highly active, acetaldehyde being the chief intermediate and acetate the end product. The mechanism for the slow incorporation of acetate into other cell constituents is, at present, unknown.