Cellobiose metabolism in Aerobacter aerogenes. II. Phosphorylation of cellobiose with adenosine 5'-triphosphate by a -glucoside kinase.

The first reaction in the metabolism of cellobiose in Aerobad er aerogenes was shown to be adenosine 5’-triphosphatedependent phosphorylation at C-6 of the nonreducing ring to yield 6-0-phosphoryl-O-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 + 4)-D-glucase (cellobiose monophosphate). The inducible fl-glucoside kinase that catalyzes the reaction was partially purified and characterized. In addition to cellobiose, the following fl-glucosides served as substrates: cellotriose, cellotetraose, cellobiitol, salicin, arbutin, gentibiose, sophorose, amygdalin, phenyl O-D-glucoside, and methyl @-D-glucoside.