Abstract
Gluconobacter oxydans oxidizes glucose via alternative pathways: one involves the non-phosphorylative, direct oxidation route to gluconic acid and ketogluconic acids, and the second requires an initial phosphorylation and then oxidation via the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes. During growth of G. oxydans in glucose-containing media, the activity of this pathway is strongly influenced by (1) the pH value of the environment and (2) the actual concentration of glucose present in the culture. At pH values below 3.5 the activity of the pentose phosphate pathway was completely inhibited resulting in an increased requirement of the organism for nutrient substances, and a poor cell yield. At pH 5.5 a triphasic growth response was observed when G. oxydans was grown in a defined medium. Above a threshold value of 5–15 mM glucose, oxidation of both glucose and gluconate by the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes was repressed, causing a rapid accumulation of gluconic acid in the culture medium. When growing under these conditions, a low affinity for the oxidation of glucose was found (K s=13 mM). Below this threshold glucose concentration, pentose phosphate pathway enzymes were synthesized and glucose was actively assimilated via this pathway. It was shown that de novo enzyme synthesis was necessary for increased pentose phosphate pathway activity and that assimilation of gluconate by washed cell suspensions was inhibited by glucose.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asai, T.: Acetic acid bacteria: classification and biochemical activities. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press 1968
Batzing, B. L., Claus, G. W.: Biphasic growth of Acetobacter suboxydans. On a glycerol-limiting medium. J. Bacteriol. 108, 592–595 (1971)
Batzing, B. L., Claus, G. W.: Fine structural changes of Acetobacter suboxydans.during growth on a defined medium. J. Bacteriol. 113, 1455–1461 (1973)
Belly, R. T., Claus, G. W.: Effect of amino acids in the growth of Acetobacter suboxydans. Arch. Mikrobiol. 83, 237–245 (1972)
Buchanan, R. E., Gibbons, N. E. (eds.): Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology, 8th edition. Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins 1974
Butlin, K. R.: The enzyme system of Bact. suboxydans. I. Variation of aerobic activity with age of culture. Biochem. J. 32, 508–512 (1938a)
Butlin, K. R.: Enzyme system of Bact. suboxydans. II. Effect of acids and pH. Biochem. J. 32, 1185–1190 (1938b)
Dawes, E. A., Midgley, M., Whiting, P. H.: Control of transport systems for glucose, gluconate and 2-oxo-gluconate, and of glucose metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In: Continuous culture, vol. 6: Applications and new fields. (A. C. R. Dean, D. C. Ellwood, C. G. T. Evans, J. Milling, eds.). Int. Symp. on Continuous Culture, Oxford, pp. 297–314. Chichester, Great Britain. Ed.: Ellis Horwood Ltd. 1976
De Ley, J., Kersters, K.: Oxidation of aliphatic glycols by acetic acid bacteria. Bacteriol. Rev. 28, 164–180 (1964)
Fewster, J. A.: Growth of Acetobacter suboxydans and the oxidation of aldoses, related carboxylic acids, and aldehydes. Biochem. J. 69, 582–595 (1958)
Fiechter, A., Von Meyenburg, K.: Automatic analysis of gas exchange in microbial systems. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 10, 535–549 (1968)
Flickinger, M. C., Perlman, D.: Application of oxygen-enriched aeration in the conversion of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone by Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3293. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33, 706–712 (1977)
Green, S. R.: U.S. Patent 2, 948, 658, August 9, 1960
Hall, A. N., Tiwari, K. S., Walker, T. K.: The influence of pH value and of carbon source on the nutritional requirements of Acetobacter suboxydans. Biochem. J. 51, XXXVI (1952)
Harrison, D. E. F.: The regulation of respiration rate in growing bacteria. Adv. Microb. Physiol. 14, 243–313 (1976)
Kersters, K., Wood, W. A., De Ley, J.: Polyol dehydrogenases of Gluconobacter oxydans. J. Biol. Chem. 240, 965–974 (1965)
King, T. E.: Glucose dehydrogenases-— Particulate. In: Methods in Enzymology, vol. IX, pp. 98–103. Wood, W. A. (ed.) New York and London: Academic Press 1966
King, T. E., Cheldelin, V. H.: Glucose oxidation and cytochromes in solubilized particulate fractions of Acetobacter suboxydans. J. Biol. Chem. 224, 579–590 (1957)
King, T. E., Cheldelin, V. H.: Multiple pathways of glucose oxidation in Acetobacter suboxydans. Biochem. J. 68, 31 (1958)
Kitos, P. A., Wang, C. H., Mohler, B. A., King, T. E., Cheldelin, V. H.: Glucose and gluconate dissimilation in Acetobacter suboxydans. J. Biol. Chem. 233, 1295–1298 (1958)
Lanning, M. C., Cohen, S. S.: The detection and estimation of 2-keto hexonic acids. J. Biol. Chem. 189, 109–114 (1951)
Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., Randall, R. J.: Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem 193, 265–275 (1951)
Midgley, M., Dawes, E. A.: The regulation of transport of glucose and methyl-α-glucoside in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biochem. J. 132, 141–154 (1973)
Möllering, H., Bergmeyer, H. J.: d-Gluconate, Methoden der enzymatischen Analyse, 3rd ed., vol. 2, 1288. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie 1974
Monod, J.: La technique de culture continue; théorie et applications, Ann. Inst. Pasteur 79, 390–410 (1950)
Roberts, B. K., Midgley, M., Dawes, E. A.: The metabolism of 2-oxogluconate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. gen. Microbiol. 78, 319–329 (1973)
Robinson, J., Cooper, J. H.: Method of determining oxygen concentrations in biological media, suitable for calibration of the oxygen electrode. Anal. Biochem. 33, 390–399 (1970)
Schramm, M.: Spectrophotometric determination of 5-ketogluconate. Anal. Chem. 28, 963–965 (1956)
Stouthamer, A. H.: Koolhydraatstofwisseling van de azijnzuurbacterien. Ph. D. thesis, Univ. Utrecht (1960)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olijve, W., Kok, J.J. Analysis of growth of Gluconobacter oxydans in glucose containing media. Arch. Microbiol. 121, 283–290 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425069
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425069