Skip to main content
Log in

Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genus Chlorella

X. Products of glucose fermentation

  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The products of glucose fermentation were studied in 87 strains of the genus Chlorella. Lactic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, glycerol, ethanol, H2 and CO2 were identified. The lactic acid was shown to be d(-)lactic acid. The pattern of fermentation products is species-specific and can therefore be used as a taxonomic character. Lactic acid was found in C. fusca (varieties vacuolata, fusca, and rubescens), C. zofingiensis, C. vulgaris (var. vulgaris and f. tertia), and C. protothecoides. Formic acid and H2 appeared in those species which contain hydrogenase. Rather large amounts of glycerol were produced only by the most salt-tolerant species C. luteoviridis, C. saccharophila, and C. protothecoides.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Begum, F., Syrett, P.J.: Fermentation of glucose by Chlorella. Arch. Mikrobiol. 72, 344–352 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Amotz, A., Avron, M.: The role of glycerol in the osmotic regulation of the halophilic alga Dunaliella parva. Plant Physiol. 51, 875–878 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernt, E., Gutmann, I.: Äthanol. Bestimmung mit Alkohol-Dehydrogenase und NAD. In: Methoden der enzymatischen Analyse, 2nd ed. Vol. II, H. U. Bergmeyer, ed., pp. 1457–1460. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Borowitzka, L.J., Brown, A.D.: The salt relations of marine and halophilic species of the unicellular green alga, Dunaliella. The role of glycerol as a compatible solute. Arch. Microbiol. 96, 37–52 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Conte, M.V., Pore, R.S.: Taxonomic implications of Prototheca and Chlorella cell wall polysaccharide characterization. Arch. Mikrobiol. 92, 227–233 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawes, E.A., McGill, D.J., Midgley, M.: Analysis of fermentation products. In: Methods in microbiology, Vol. 6A, J.R. Norris, D.W. Ribbons, eds., pp. 53–215. New York: Academic Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Fott, B., Nováková, M.: A monograph of the genus Chlorella. The fresh water species. In: Studies in phycology, B. Fott, ed., pp. 10–74. Prag: Academia 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedemann, T.E.: The identification and quantitative determination of volatile alcohols and acids. J. biol. Chem. 123, 161–184 (1938)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gawehn, K., Bergmeyer, H.U.: d-(-)-Lactat. In: Methoden der enzymatischen Analyse, 2nd ed. Vol. II, H. U. Bergmeyer, ed., pp. 1450–1453. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, M.: Fermentation. In: Physiology and biochemistry of algae, R. A. Lewin, ed., pp. 91–97. New York: Academic Press 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruber, P.J., Frederick, S.E., Tolbert, N.E.: Enzymes related to lactate metabolism in green algae and lower land plants. Plant Physiol. 53, 167–170 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellmann, V., Kessler, E.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. VIII. Die Basenzusammensetzung der DNS. Arch. Microbiol. 95, 311–318 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • v. Hugo, H., Schoberth, S., Madan, V.K., Gottschalk, G.: Coenzyme specificity of dehydrogenases and fermentation of pyruvate by clostridia. Arch. Mikrobiol. 87, 189–202 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hullin, R.P., Noble, R.L.: The determination of lactic acid in microgram quantities. Biochem. J. 55, 289–291 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, R.: Chromatographie in der Gasphase, 2nd ed. Vol. 3, part 1, pp. 98–99. Mannheim: Bibliographisches Institut 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. I. Säureresistenz als taxonomisches Merkmal. Arch. Mikrobiol. 52, 291–296 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. III. Merkmale von 8 autotrophen Arten. Arch. Mikrobiol. 55, 346–357 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. VI. Verwertung organischer Kohlenstoff-Verbindungen. Arch. Mikrobiol. 85, 153–158 (1972a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. VII. Die Thermophilie von Chlorella vulgaris f. tertia Fott et Nováková. Arch. Mikrobiol. 87, 243–248 (1972b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. IX. Salzresistenz als taxonomisches Merkmal. Arch. Microbiol. 100, 51–56 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E., Czygan, F.-C.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. IV. Verwertung organischer Stickstoffverbindungen. Arch. Mikrobiol. 70, 211–216 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E., Czygan, F.-C., Fott, B., Nováková, M.: Über Halochlorella rubescens Dangeard. Arch. Protistenk. 110, 462–467 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, E., Zweier, I.: Physiologische und biochemische Beiträge zur Taxonomie der Gattung Chlorella. V. Die auxotrophen und mesotrophen Arten. Arch. Mikrobiol. 79, 44–48 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Perlin, A.S.: Determination of formic acid by oxidation with lead tetraacetate. Analyt. Chem. 26, 1053–1054 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pore, R.S.: Nutritional basis for relating Prototheca and Chlorella. Canad. J. Microbiol. 18, 1175–1177 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shihira, I., Krauss, R.W.: Chlorella. Physiology and taxonomy of forty-one isolates. College Park, Maryland: University of Maryland 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrett, P.J., Wong, H.-A.: The fermentation of glucose by Chlorella vulgaris. Biochem. J. 89, 308–315 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinayakumar, M.: Type of fermentation and the biochemical taxonomy of the genus Chlorella. Dissertation, Universität Erlangen (1974)

  • Warburg, O., Gewitz, H.-S., Völker, W.: d-(-)-Milchsäure in Chlorella. Z. Naturforsch. 12b, 722–724 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weis, D.S., Mukerjee, H.: Algal fermentations. Plant Physiol. 33, VIII (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • White, J.N., Starr, M.P.: Glucose fermentation endproducts of Erwinia spp. and other enterobacteria. J. appl. Bact. 34, 459–475 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yemm, E.W., Willis, A.J.: The estimation of carbohydrates in plant extracts by anthrone. Biochem. J. 57, 508–514 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vinayakumar, M., Kessler, E. Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genus Chlorella . Arch. Microbiol. 103, 13–19 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436324

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436324

Key words

Navigation