Archives of Microbiology

, Volume 148, Issue 2, pp 137–143 | Cite as

Fermentation shifts and metabolic reactivity during anaerobic carbon-limited growth of Klebsiella aerogenes NCTC 418 on fructose, gluconate, mannitol and pyruvate

  • H. Streekstra
  • E. T. Buurman
  • C. W. G. Hoitink
  • M. J. Teixeira de Mattos
  • O. M. Neijssel
  • D. W. Tempest
Original Papers

Abstract

Klebsiella aerogenes NCTC 418 was grown in chemostat culture under carbon limitation, with fructose, mannitol, gluconate or pyruvate as the growth-limiting substrates, respectively. It was found that under these conditions the carbon sources were fermented with maximal stoichiometry of ATP generation. The YATP values (g cells per mol ATP generated net) were similar for mannitol- and fructose-limited cultures, but gluconate-limited cultures expressed a value that was 20% lower. From these data it was concluded that gluconate-limited cells invest 0.5 ATP in the uptake of 1 gluconate.

If the carbon limitation was instantaneously relieved by addition of a saturating amount of the growth-limiting substrate it was found that the response depended on the nature of the carbon substrate, and in particular on the ability to shift the fermentation pattern towards new products. In fructose- and gluconate-limited cultures the specific uptake rate of the carbon source increased substantially, without a concomitant increase in growth rate, and D-lactate appeared as a new fermentation product, in the case of gluconate accompanied by pyruvate. In contrast, with mannitol- and pyruvate-limited cultures the uptake rate of the carbon source and the fermentation pattern did not change. These results are discussed in connection with the functioning of the methylglyoxal by-pass and its role in sustaining metabolic reactivity.

Key words

Klebsiella aerogenes Chemostat culture Metabolic uncoupling Methylglyoxal by-pass Fermentation shifts 

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • H. Streekstra
    • 1
  • E. T. Buurman
    • 1
  • C. W. G. Hoitink
    • 1
  • M. J. Teixeira de Mattos
    • 1
  • O. M. Neijssel
    • 1
  • D. W. Tempest
    • 2
  1. 1.Laboratorium voor Microbiologie, Biotechnologisch CentrumUniversiteit van AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
  2. 2.Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK

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