Abstract
Escherichia coli strain NZN111, which is unable to grow fermentatively because of insertional inactivation of the genes encoding pyruvate: formate lyase and the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase, gave rise spontaneously to a chromosomal mutation that restored its ability to ferment glucose. The mutant strain, named AFP111, fermented glucose more slowly than did its wild-type ancestor, strain W1485, and generated a very different spectrum of products. AFP111 produced succinic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol in proportions of approx 2:1:1. Calculations of carbon and electron balances accounted fully for the observed products; 1 mol of glucose was converted to 1 mol of succinic acid and 0.5 mol each of acetic acid and ethanol. The data support the emergence in E.coli of a novel succinic acid:acetic acid:ethanol fermentation pathway.
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Donnelly, M.I., Millard, C.S., Clark, D.P. et al. A novel fermentation pathway in anEscherichia coli mutant producing succinic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 70, 187–198 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920135
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920135