Abstract
The occurrence of the two key enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, gluconate-6-phosphate dehydrase and 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate-6-phosphate aldolase, was determined in approximately 150 strains belonging to 37 different bacterial genera.
The following results were obtained:
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1)
24 out of 37 genera have at least one representative with the Entner-Doudoroff mechanism. It is thus more widespread than previously thought.
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2)
The Entner-Doudoroff mechanism occurs mainly in gram-negative bacteria with a DNA base composition in the range 52–70% GC. Eighty-five per cent of these organisms contain the system, while only 20% (6 strains) of the gram-negative organisms with less than 52% GC possess both enzymes.
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3)
This pathway is absent in all gram-positive organisms investigated except in 5 out of 12Nocardia strains.
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4)
Erwinia and some strains of theAchromobacter-Alcaligenes group are exceptional, since they possess only 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate-6-phosphate aldolase.
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