Glycerol metabolism in Rhizobium

Abstract

Four strains of Rhizobium japonicum and one strain of R. trifolii were grown on glycerol and found to contain a soluble ATP-glycerol kinase and a particulate glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Both enzymes are induced by glycerol. The presence of NAD+– or NADP+–glycerol dehydrogenase was not detected in any of the strains. No significant differences were found in the glycerol metabolic pathway between fast- and slow-growing rhizobia.