This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reddy, C. A. Articles by Wolin, M. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reddy, C. A. Articles by Wolin, M. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1972 April; 110(1): 133-138
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Ferredoxin-Dependent Conversion of Acetaldehyde to Acetate and H₂ in Extracts of S Organism

^a Departments of Dairy Science and Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801

ABSTRACT

S organism, an anaerobic gram-negative rod, which is one of two bacterial species isolated from the culture known as "Methanobacillus omelianskii," ferments ethanol to acetate and H₂. The present study shows that extracts of this organism contain ferredoxin and produce acetate from acetaldehyde via aldehyde: ferredoxin oxidoreductase activity. Electrons generated in the reaction are given off as H₂ by a previously demonstrated ferredoxin-linked hydrogenase system. Extracts were shown to contain good phosphotransacetylase and acetokinase activities, but no mechanism of adenosine triphosphate generation during acetaldehyde conversion to acetate could be detected. No evidence could be obtained for coenzyme A (CoASH) or phosphate requirement or for formation of acetyl CoA or acetyl phosphate.

¹ Present address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30601.