The photometabolism of propionate by Rhodospirillum rubrum

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
When R. rubrum metabolizes [l-14C]propionate in the light, some 60% of the 14C can be recovered as 14CO2. Only 3% of the activity of [2-14c]propionate can be similarly recovered. A similar effect is observed with [1,4-14C2]- and [2,3-14C2]-succinate. The first detectable product of propionate photometabolism is succinate, and fumarate and malate are intermediates in the assimilation of succinate. Experiments with cell-free extracts show that the reactions involved in propionate carboxylation resemble those in animal tissues and in Propionibacterium shermanii. Propionyl-coenzyme A is the substrate of the carboxylation, ATP is required for its carboxylation, methylmalonyl-coenzyme A is the product of the reaction and the reaction is inhibited by avidin.