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The role of carbon dioxide in glucose metabolism of Bacteroides fragilis

Archives of Microbiology volume 135, pages 16–24 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of CO2 concentration on growth and glucose fermentation of Bacteroides fragilis was studied in a defined mineral medium. Batch culture experiments were done in closed tubes containing CO2 concentrations ranging from 10% to 100% (with appropriate amounts of bicarbonate added to maintain the pH at 6.7). These experiments revealed that CO2 had no influence on growth rate or cell yield when the CO2 concentration was above 30% CO2 (minimum available CO2−HCO -3 , 25.5 mM), whereas a slight decrease in these parameters was observed at 20% and 10% CO2 (available CO2−HCO -3 , 17 and 8.5 mM, respectively). If CO2−HCO -3 concentrations were below 10 mM, the lag phase lengthened and a decrease in maximal growth rate and cell yield were observed. The amount of acetate made decreased, while d-lactate concentration increased. A net production of CO2 allowed growth under conditions of extremely low concentrations of added CO2.

When B. fragilis was grown in continuous culture with 100% CO2 or 100% N2, the dilution rate influenced the concentrations of acetate, succinate, propionate, d-lactate, l-malate and formate formed. Decreasing the dilution rate favored propionate and acetate production under both conditions. When the organism was grown with 100% N2, the amount of propionate formed was greater than the amount of succinate formed at all dilution rates. Except at slow dilution rates the reverse was true when 100% CO2 was used. B. fragilis was unable to grow at dilution rates faster than 0.154 h-1 when grown with 100% N2; the Y maxglc was 67.9 g DW cells/mol glucose and m s was 0.064 mmol glucose/g DW·h. If the gas atmosphere was 100% CO2 the organism was washed out of the culture when the dilution rate exceeded 0.38 h-1; the Y maxglc was 59.4 g DW cells/mol glucose and m s was 0.094 mmol glucose/g DW·h.

Measurement of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinase (E.C. 4.1.1.49) with whole, permeabilized cells of B. fragilis showed an increase of specific enzyme activity with decreasing CO2 concentrations. The mechanisms used by B. fragilis to adjust to low levels of CO2 are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Doris Caspari

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Joan M. Macy

Authors
  1. Doris Caspari
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  2. Joan M. Macy
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Caspari, D., Macy, J.M. The role of carbon dioxide in glucose metabolism of Bacteroides fragilis . Arch. Microbiol. 135, 16–24 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00419476

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00419476

Key words

  • CO2
  • Glucose metabolism
  • Bacteroides fragilis
  • Continuous culture
  • Maximum-growth yield
  • Maintenance
  • PEP carboxykinase