AN ENZYMATIC STUDY OF THE UTILIZATION OF GLUCONIC ACID BY PROPIONIBACTERIUM PENTOSACEUM

Abstract
Cell-free preparations of gluconate-grown P pentosaceum oxidize the various phophorylated intermediates of the Embdem-Meyerhof and hexose monophosphate pathways. The various enzymes essential to these pathways, as well as transketolase and transaldolase, were demonstrated in these preparations. The significance of this study with respect to isotopic studies of carbohydrate metabolism in the propionic acid bacteria is discussed.