STUDIES ON THE AEROBIC OXIDATION OF FATTY ACIDS BY BACTERIA III

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Abstract
2,4-Dinitrophenol blocks the oxidation of the 2-, 6-, and 7-carbon fatty acids by both adapted and unadapted cells of S. marcescens. It prevents adaptation to the oxidation of the 8-, 9-, 11-, and 13-C acids but not adaptation to oxidation of the 10-, 12-, and 14-C acids. Where oxidation proceeds in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol, oxidative assimilation is partially or completely blocked. Both in the presence and absence of 2,4-dinitrophenol the portion of the fatty acids not oxidatively assimilated apparently is oxidized to completion without the accumulation of unoxidized fragments. Similar results were obtained with Na azide. The evidence presented shows that acetic, caproic, and caprylic acids are not direct intermediates in the oxidation of the C10, C12, and C14 fatty acids by S. marcescens, and acetic and heptylic are not intermediates in C9, C11, and C13 oxidation. It thus appears that beta oxidation of fatty acids is not the mechanism utilized by S. marcescens.