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J Bacteriol. 1972 March; 109(3): 1144-1148
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Ribose Utilization by Veillonella alcalescens

^a Section of Microbiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

ABSTRACT

The utilization of ribose by Veillonella alcalescens has been further investigated. Nonfermentation of ribose is not a result of a phosphorylation lesion since ribose-phosphorylating activity was measured in cell extracts. Resting cells accumulated ribose-5-phosphate and nucleotides when ¹⁴C-ribose was provided; no other sugar phosphates were detectable. Resting cells that were shifted to growth conditions polymerized rather than degraded the accumulated ribose compounds. Cell extracts contained a fructose diphosphate phosphatase. Ribose-5-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, and fructose-6-phosphate were not hydrolyzed. It is postulated that the nonfermentation of ribose is not due to any metabolic lesions, but is a consequence of metabolic control at the fructose diphosphate level of glycolysis.

¹ Present address: Department of Zoology and Physiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. 07102.