Effects of butanol on Clostridium acetobutylicum

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5711364

Bowles, L K; Ellefson, W L

The internal pH of Clostridium acetobutylicum was determined at various stages during the growth of the organism. Even in the presence of significant quantities of acetic, butyric, and lactic acids, an internal pH of 6.2 was maintained. Experiments using N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide indicated that a functioning H/sup +/-ATPase is necessary for internal pH control. Butanol, one of the end products of the fermentation, had numerous harmful effects on C. acetobutylicum. At a concentration high enough to inhibit growth, butanol destroyed the ability of the cell to maintain internal pH, lowered the intracellular level of ATP, and inhibited glucose uptake. Experiments done at two different external pH values suggested that the butanol-mediated decrease in ATP concentration was independent of the drop in internal pH. Glucose uptake was not affected by arsenate, suggesting that uptake was not ATP dependent. The effects of butanol on C. acetobutylicum are complex, inhibiting several interrelated membrane processes.

• Research Organization: CPC International, Inc., Argo, IL
• OSTI ID: 5711364
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 50:5; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
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550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACID ANHYDRASES
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ATP
ATP-ASE
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUTANOLS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL CYCLE
CLOSTRIDIUM
CLOSTRIDIUM ACETOBUTYLICUM
ENZYMES
FERMENTATION
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROLASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
METABOLISM
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHOSPHOHYDROLASES
SACCHARIDES
UPTAKE