The metabolism of glucuronic acid by xylose-fermenting coliform bacteria

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Abstract
Washed suspensions of Escherichia coli previously grown on xylose are able to form adaptive systems for the fermentation of glucuronic and galacturonic acids and L-arabinose. Glucose was fermented immediately but galactose and alpha- and beta-glucuronic acid-1-phosphates were not fermented. Cells grown on glucose could ferment glucose and formed adaptive systems for glucuronate and galacturonate, but did not ferment galactose, xylose, arabinose or alpha-glucuronic acid-1-phosphate. Cells grown on glucuronate could ferment glucose, glucuronate and galacturonate but not galactose, xylose, arabinose or alpha-and beta-glucuronic acid-1-phosphate. In the case of cells grown on xylose the adaptation period was greatly shortened by adding glucose, xylose or adenosin-etriphosphate, and also by the presence of a "factor" which could be washed from the cells. Cells grown on glucuronate could not be made to ferment xylose by the addition of glucuronate, glucose or adenosinetriphosphate. The possible significance of these results is discussed.