BACTERIAL FERMENTATION OF NICOTINIC ACID

Abstract

Although the over-all reaction requires no external energy source, the nature of the end products indicates that at least two oxidation-reduction steps occur during the reaction. It was of interest, therefore, to test the effect of an oxidizing agent on the fermentation of NA. One may in this manner force the accumulation of a more oxidized compound which may be an intermediate in the fermentation or may be derived from an intermediate. The oxidation of NA by methylene blue to 6-hydroxynicotinic acid (HNA), catalyzed by a nicotinic acid-fermenting organism, is the subject of this report.