Acidic conditions are not obligatory for onset of butanol formation by Clostridium beijerinckii (synonym, C. butylicum)

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5424985

George, H A; Chen, J S

Factors that may initiate the metabolic transition for butanol production were investigated in batch cultures of Clostridium beijerinckii (synonym, Clostridium butylicum) VPI 13436. Cultures maintained at pH 6.8 produced nearly as much butanol as those incubated without pH control, indicating that neither a change in the culture pH nor acid conditions per se are always required to initiate solvent formation. Acetate and butyrate levels at the onset of butanol production were dependent on the pH at which the cultures were maintained. Cultures maintained at ph 6.8 could be accelerated into solvent production by artifically lowering the pH to 5.0 or by the addition of acetate plus butyrate without a pH change (but neither acid alone was effective). Solvent production was associated with slower rates of growth and general metabolism, and it did not show a requirement for mature spore formation. We speculate that a slowdown in metabolism, which may be brought about by several conditions, is mechanistically related to the onset of butanol production. Extracts of solvent-producing cells contained acetoacetate decarboxylase activity as well as higher NADP+ -linked butanol dehydrogenase and lower hydrogenase activities than extracts of acid-producing cells. Solvent production did not appear to involve an enhanced ability to catalyze H/sub 2/ oxidation. (Refs. 21).

• Research Organization: Dept. of Anaerobic Microbiology, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061
• OSTI ID: 5424985
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 46:2; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACETATES
ALCOHOLS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUTANOLS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CLOSTRIDIUM
FERMENTATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
SYNTHESIS