Tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in Acetobacter pasteurianum.

Previous papers from this laboratory (King and Cheldelin, 1952, 1952a, 1954; Hauge et al., 1955, 1955a) have reported on the oxidation of carbohydrates in Acetobacter suboxydans. Neither resting nor disintegrated cells can oxidize acetate or other intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These findings have recently been confirmed in another laboratory (Rao and Gunsalus, 1955). From the comparative biochemical viewpoint, it is of interest to study the oxidative behavior of other species of the genus Acetobacter. Results reported in this paper demonstrate that Acetobacter pasteurianum, in contrast to A. suboxydans, can oxidize all the intermediates of the Krebs cycle. Other evidence also indicates the functioning of this cycle in A. pasteurianum.