Evidence for alternate pathways for the oxidation of glucose by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Species of Pseudomonas accumulate gluconic and 2-ketogluconic acids when grown in a medium containing glucose (Norris and Campbell, 1949; Stubbs et al., 1940; Entner and Stanier, 1951). In addition, cell-free preparations of these organisms will convert glucose to 2-ketogluconic acid (Wood and Schwerdt, 1953; Claridge and Werkman, 1953). These reactions suggest a pathway for the dissimilation of glucose differing from the glycolytic route. Campbell and Norris (1950) present evidence for the absence of an Embden-Meyerhof scheme in Pseudomonas aerzginosa based upon the phosphorus distribution. However, Wood and Schwerdt (1952a) have found evidence for alternate routes of carbohydrate oxidation in Pseudomona fluorescens. The present report is concerned with the evidence for the presence of more than one pathway for the oxidation of glucose by P. aeruinosa.