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Gluconate catabolism in cowpea rhizobia: evidence for a ketogluconate pathway

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Abstract

Enzymatic and radiorespirometric analysis of several strains of cowpea rhizobia revealed the presence of key enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway with the operation of the hexose cycle for the dissimilation of gluconate. These bacteria lack the oxidative pentose phosphate (PP) pathway when grown on gluconate. Gluconate-grown cells possessed an operational tricarboxylic acid (TAC) cycle. Enzymes of an ancillary pathway, the ketogluconate (KG) pathway for gluconate catabolism were detected. The presence of this pathway was confirmed by techniques of thin-layer chromatography and radiorespirometry.

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Abbreviations

ED:

Entner Doudoroff

PP:

pentose phosphate

EMP:

Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas

KG:

ketogluconate

TCA:

tricarboxylic acid

DKG:

diketogluconate

PFK:

phosphofructokinase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NPI, University Research Park, 84108, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Mark D. Stowers

  2. Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, P.O. Box 5476, 27650, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Gerald H. Elkan

Authors
  1. Mark D. Stowers
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  2. Gerald H. Elkan
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Stowers, M.D., Elkan, G.H. Gluconate catabolism in cowpea rhizobia: evidence for a ketogluconate pathway. Arch. Microbiol. 137, 3–9 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425799

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425799

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