Anaerobic catabolism of formate to acetate and CO/sub 2/ by Butyribacterium methylotrophicum
The catabolism of sodium formate to acetate and carbon dioxide by the anaerobic acetogen Butyribacterium methylotrophicum was analyzed by fermentation time course and /sup 13/C nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Significant hydrogen production and consumption fluxes were observed during formate catabolism but not during the catabolism of formate plus CO. In the latter case, formate and CO were simultaneously consumed and label distribution studies with mixtures of /sup 13/C-labeled CO and formate demonstrated their preferential incorporation into the acetate carboxyl and methyl groups, respectively. Hydrogen consumption was inhibited by CO when both were present, whereas hydrogen and formate were simultaneously consumed when CO/sub 2/ was supplied. Carbon dioxide was required for the conversion of CO to acetate, but a similar need was not observed when methanol plus CO or formate plus CO was present. These analyses indicate a bifurcated single-carbon catabolic pathway in which CO/sub 2/ is the sole single-carbon compound that directly supplies the carbonyl and methyl group synthesis pathways leading to the formation of acetyl coenzyme A, the primary reduced product. The authors discuss causes for the reported inability of B. methylotrophicum to use formate as a sole substrate.
- Research Organization:
- Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, MI
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-85ER13376
- OSTI ID:
- 6466657
- Journal Information:
- J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Vol. 169:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FORMIC ACID
CATABOLISM
ACETATES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CARBON 13
CARBON DIOXIDE
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESONANCE
STABLE ISOTOPES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550500 - Metabolism