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J Bacteriol. 1962 May; 83(5): 1131-1139
Copyright © 1962, The Williams & Wilkins Company. All Rights Reserved.

OXIDATION OF POLYOLS BY NOCARDIA CORALLINA

Biochemistry Department, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand

ABSTRACT

MAURER, P. R. (University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand) AND R. D. BATT. Oxidation of polyols by Nocardia corallina. J. Bacteriol. 83:1131–1139. 1962.—Two diphosphopyridine nucleotide-linked polyol dehydrogenases were induced in Nocardia corallina strain S, and grown on either mannitol or sorbitol. One enzyme was labile and was specific for the conversion of sorbitol to D-fructose.

The second enzyme, which converted D-mannitol to D-fructose and, more slowly, D-arabitol to D-xylulose, was named the D-mannitol dehydrogenase. The configurations of the hydroxyl groups at carbons 2, 3, 4, and 5 of substrates for this enzyme were stereospecific. Formation of the enzyme was induced by D-mannitol and D-sorbitol but not by D-arabitol.

Extracts of cells grown on either mannitol or sorbitol catalyzed the oxidation of the reduced form of diphosphopyridine nucleotide in the presence of D-fructose and D-xylulose.

Cell suspensions of the organism oxidized mannitol, sorbitol, glycerol, inositol, and fructose but not dulcitol, D-arabitol, D-xylulose, or L-sorbose.