Abstract
In several sulfate-reducing bacteria capable of complete oxidation of acetate (or acetyl CoA), the citric acid cycle is not operative. No 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity was found in these organisms, and the labelling pattern of oxaloacetate excludes its synthesis via 2-oxo-glutarate. These sulfate-reducers contained, however, high activities of the enzymes carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase and catalyzed an isotope exchange between CO2 and the carboxyl group of acetate (or acetyl CoA), showing a direct C-C-cleavage of activated acetic acid. These findings suggest that in the investigated sulfate-reducers acetate is oxidized to CO2 via C1 intermediates. The proposed pathway provides a possible explanation for the reported different fluoroacetate sensitivity of acetate oxidation by anaerobic bacteria, for mini-methane formation, as well as for the postulated anaerobic methane oxidation by special sulfate-reducers.
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Schauder, R., Eikmanns, B., Thauer, R.K. et al. Acetate oxidation to CO2 in anaerobic bacteria via a novel pathway not involving reactions of the citric acid cycle. Arch. Microbiol. 145, 162–172 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446775
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446775