Summary
Sorbitol is formed as the major by-product in ethanol fermentations by Zymomonas mobilis when both glucose and fructose are present in the fermentation medium. The amount of sorbitol produced was equivalent to as much as 11% of the original carbon source, decreasing the ethanol yield correspondingly. Only minor amounts of sorbitol were formed from glucose or fructose alone. The formation of sorbitol is apparently a consequence of the inhibition of fructokinase by glucose.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amin G, Van den Eynde E, Verachtert H (1983) Determination of by-products formed during the ethanolic fermentation, using batch and immobilized cell systems of Zymomonas mobilis and Saccharomyces bayanus. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 18:1–5
Bevers J, Verachtert H (1976) Synthesis of higher alcohols in the genus Zymomonas. J Inst Brew 82:35–40
Blackbeard JR, Doelle HW (1983) The effect of glucose on the sucrose hydrolysing activity of Zymomonas mobilis. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 17:261–263
Chiang C, Knight SG (1959) d-xylose metabolism by cell free extracts of Penicillium chrysogenum. Biochim Biophys Acta 35:454–463
Doelle HW (1982a) The existence of two separate constitutive enzymes for glucose and fructose in Zymomonas mobilis. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 15:20–24
Doelle HW (1982b) Kinetic characteristics and regulatory mechanism of glucokinase and fructokinase from Zymomonas mobilis. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 14:241–246
Horwitz SB, Kaplan NO (1964) Hexitol dehydrogenase of Bacillus subtilis. J Biol Chem 239:830–838
Lee KJ, Skotnicki ML, Tribe DE, Robers PL (1981) The kinetics of ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis on fructose and sucrose media. Biotechnol Lett 3:207–212
Lengeler J, Liu ECC (1972) Reversal of the mannitol-sorbitol diauxie in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 112:840–848
Liss M, Horwitz SB, Kaplan NO (1962) d-Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase and d-sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Aerobacter aerogenes. J Biol Chem 237:1342–1350
Lyness E, Doelle HW (1981) Fermentation pattern of sucrose to ethanol conversion by Zymomonas mobilis. Biotechnol Bioeng 23:1449–1460
Millis NF (1956) A study of the cider-sickness bacillus — a new variety of Zymomonas anaerobia. J Gen Microbiol 15:521–528
Perez Matos A, Ruiz Amil M (1979) Regulation and identification of sorbitol dehydrogenase in the mycelium of Aspergillus oryzae. An Inst Invest Vet (Madrid) 25:259–273 (Ref CA 93: 234669)
Rogers PL, Lee KJ, Skotnicki ML, Tribe DE (1982) Ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis. Adv Biochem Eng 23:37–84
Scher BM, Horecker BL (1966) Pentose metabolism in Candida. III The triphosphopyridine nucleotide-specific polyol dehydrogenase of Candida utilis. 116:117–128
Sheys GH, Doughty CC (1971) The reaction mechanism of aldose reductase from Rhodotorula. Biochim Biophys Acta 242:523–531
Shinagawa E, Matsushita K, Adachi O, Ameyama M (1982) Purification and characterization of d-sorbitol dehydrogenase from membrane of Gluconobacter suboxydans var α. Agr Biol Chem 46:135–141
Swings J, De Ley J (1977) The biology of Zymomonas. Bacteriol Rev 41:1–46
Toran-Diaz I, Delezon C, Baratti J (1983) The kinetics of ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis on fructose medium. Biotechnol Lett 5:409–412
Viikari L (1984) Formation of levan and sorbitol from sucrose by Zymomonas mobilis. Eur J Appl Biochem Biotechnol 19:252–255
Viikari L, Lindberg K, Linko M, Parkkinen E (1982) The effect of environmental factors on the production of ethanol from sucrose by Zymomonas bacteria. In: 13th Intern Congr Microbiol, Abstracts, Boston, Mass., p 170
Watson JA, Hagashi JA, Shuytema E, Doughty CC (1969) Identification of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent aldehyde reductase in a Rhodotorula strain. J Bacteriol 100:110–116
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Viikari, L. Formation of sorbitol by Zymomonas mobilis . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 20, 118–123 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252588
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252588