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J Bacteriol. 1972 February; 109(2): 626-632
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Fermentation of Fructose and Synthesis of Acetate from Carbon Dioxide by Clostridium formicoaceticum¹

^a Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30601

ABSTRACT

Clostridium formicoaceticum ferments fructose labeled with ¹⁴C in carbon 1, 4, 5, or 6 via the Embden Meyerhof pathway. In fermentations of fructose in the presence of ¹⁴CO₂, acetate is formed labeled equally in both carbons. Extracts convert the methyl groups of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and methyl-B₁₂ to the methyl group of acetate in the presence of pyruvate. Formate dehydrogenase, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase are present in extracts of C. formicoaceticum. These enzymes are needed for the conversion of CO₂ to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. It is proposed that acetate is totally synthesized from CO₂ via the reactions catalyzed by the enzymes listed above and that 5-methyltetra-hydrofolate and a methylcorrinoid are intermediates in this synthesis.

² Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.

¹ This paper is derived from a dissertation submitted by William E. O'Brien to the Graduate School, University of Georgia, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. A portion of this work was presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Boston, Mass., 26 April–1 May 1970.

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