Aerobic breakdown of glucose by <i>Bact. suboxydans</i>

Abstract

BACT. SUBOXYDANS, an acetic acid organism isolated by Kluyver & de Leeuw [1924], is described by them as " characterized by its slight intensity of oxidation which leads to an accumulation of intermediary products". Normally, in aerated cultures grown in suitable liquid media, Bact. suboxydans converts glucose into gluconic acid and sometimes further into 5-ketogluconic acid. In this respect it differs considerably from related organisms such as Bact. aceti, Bact. rancens and Bact. xylinum, which are capable of oxidizing both glucose and gluconic acid to carbon dioxide and water. In the work to be described it is shown that the property of restricted oxidation so characteristic of Bact. suboxydans in aerobic conditions can be changed into one of strong oxidative ability similar to that of the three organisms mentioned. Moreover, the two types of culture possessing these different oxidative properties are convertible one into the other by a simple modification of the medium on which the organism is grown.