STUDIES ON THE AEROBIC OXIDATION OF FATTY ACIDS BY BACTERIA

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Abstract
Thirteen metabolic inhibitors were tested for their effects on oxidation of capric acid and its derivatives, alpha-beta unsaturated, beta-hydroxy and beta-ketocapric acids, by resting cells of S. marcescens. using conventional Warburg procedures. These inhibitors fell into 4 groups: those without any effect; those depressing rate of oxidation only; those inhibiting both rate and extent of oxidation; and a single compound, 2, 4, 6-trichlorophenol, which showed differential inhibitory effects depending on the chain length of the substrate. At the proper concentration the latter inhibitor prevented oxidation of the caprate derivatives and shorter chain length fatty acids but did not inhibit oxidation of caprate and longer chain fatty acids. It was suggested that trichlorophenol acted by blocking the activating enzyme(s) involved.