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Acetic acid from H2 and CO2

Formation of acetate by cell extracts of Acetobacterium woodii

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Abstract

Cell extracts of a nonsporeforming strictly anaerobic bacterium, Acetobacterium woodii produced acetate in N-tris(Hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminoethane sulfonic acid or phosphate buffers from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The formation of acetate was not dependent on the presence of ATP in the reaction mixture; ADP also did not influence the acetate production. Since acetic acid is the main fermentation product during growth of A. woodii with H2 and CO2, ATP must be synthesized in the course of acetate formation. The possible sites of ATP synthesis are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. Siegfried Schoberth

    Present address: Institut für Biotechnologie, Nuclear Research Center (KFA) Jülich GmbH, D-5170, Jülich 1, Germany

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  1. Institut für Mikrobiologie der Universität, Grisebachstr. 8, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Siegfried Schoberth

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  1. Siegfried Schoberth
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Schoberth, S. Acetic acid from H2 and CO2 . Arch. Microbiol. 114, 143–148 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410775

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