Energetics of end product excretion in anaerobic bacteria and the metabolism of fatty acids by Syntrophomonas wolfei: Progress report, November 16, 1986-November 15, 1987

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5748513

McInerney, M J

We have studied the growth and metabolism of Syntrophomonas wolfei in pure culture with crotonate as the energy source. S. wolfei grows in crotonate mineral salts medium without rumen fluid with cobalamin, thymine, lipoic acid and biotin added. However, after four to six transfers in this medium, growth ceases, indicating that another vitamin is required. The chemically defined medium allows large batches of S. wolfei to be grown for enzyme purification. All the enzymes involved in the oxidation of crotonyl-CoA to acetate have been detected. The pure culture of S. wolfei or coculture of S. wolfei grown with crotonate contain high activities of a crotonate: acetyl-CoA CoA-transferase activity. This activity is not detected in cocultures grown with butyrate. Thus, we believe that the reason why S. wolfei can now grow with crotonate is that an alteration or mutation occurred which allows the organism to activate this crotonate. S. wolfei also makes small amounts of H/sub 2/ when grown in pure culture with crotonate. A methyl viologen-dependent hydrogenase activity was found. We have also demonstrated the production of H/sub 2/ from 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA in cell-free extracts of S. wolfei by coupling H/sub 2/ production to CH/sub 4/ production with the addition of Methanobacterium bryantii and directly using a hydrogen electrode. These results clearly show that S. wolfei makes H/sub 2/. S. wolfei does not contain formate dehydrogenase or CO dehydrogenase activities.

• Research Organization: Oklahoma Univ., Norman (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AS05-83ER13053
• OSTI ID: 5748513
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/13053-6; ON: DE88002790
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CATABOLISM
CROTONIC ACID
DIGESTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENZYMES
FRACTIONATION
HYDROGENASES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LABELLING
MANAGEMENT
METABOLISM
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PLANTS
PROCESSING
PROGRESS REPORT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING