AEROBIC GLUCOSE DISSIMILATION BY ACHROMOBACTER SPECIES I

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Abstract
Previous work on 426 strains of Achromobacter. representing 12 spp., showed that 93% had strong aerobic tendencies. Quantitative chemical analyses proved that the predominant action of A. guttatus and A. butyri on glucose in aerated, inorganic salts media was to produce cell substance and CO2. Conventional qualitative technics on unconcentrated culture media following growth failed to reveal any other end products. By varying the intensity of aeration and the concn. of the N source, these nonfermentative bacteria were found capable of causing the pH to drop from 6.7 to 3.2 in shake flasks. This phenomenon was exploited to facilitate the detection of dissimilation intermediates in the concd., cell-free medium. The utilization of paper chromatography, color tests, and Duclaux distillations resulted in the detection of gluconate, pyruvate, lactate, acetate, citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate, glycolate, and malonate at the point of max. pH depression. Malate, fumarate, oxalacetate, 2- or 5-ketogluconate, amino acids, uronic acids, sugars other than glucose, and phosphorylated intermediates appeared to be absent. The possible metabolic sources of the compounds in regard to dissimilation pathways are discussed. Also discussed, from a taxonomic standpoint, is the predominant aerobic nature of these organisms as representatives of the genus and the marked similarity exhibited during these studies between the 2 spp. used.