Simultaneous Adaptation: A New Technique for the Study of Metabolic Pathways

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Abstract
The analysis of adaptive enzymatic behavior can be used to determine the course of microbial dissimilations. The theoretical basis of the technique is as follows: (1) If the dissimilation of a given substance A proceeds through a series of intermediates B,C,D,E,F, G, ..... and if the individual steps in this chain are under adaptive enzymatic control, then growth on a medium that contains A will produce cells that are simultaneously adapted to A, B, C, D, E, F, G, . . . .; (2) If growth on A fails to adapt the cells to a postulated intermediate X, then X cannot be a member of the reaction chain; (3) Growth on E will adapt the cells for F, G, . . ., but not necessarily for A, B, C and D. The probability that growth on E will adapt the cells to precursors decreases with the number of intervening steps; i.e., adaptation to D is more probable than adaptation to A. These postulates are illustrated by a specific example: the oxidation of a group of related aromatic compounds by a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

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