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J Bacteriol. 1962 October; 84(4): 625-630
Copyright © 1962, The Williams & Wilkins Company. All Rights Reserved.

SYNTHESIS OF CELLULOSE FROM PYRUVATE BY SUCCINATE-GROWN CELLS OF ACETOBACTER XYLINUM

Department of Biological Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

ABSTRACT

BENZIMAN, MOSHE (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel) AND H. BURGER-RACHAMIMOV. Synthesis of cellulose from pyruvate by succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum. J. Bacteriol. 84:625–630. 1962.—Pyruvate was converted into cellulose by succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum. With pyruvate-1-, 2-, or 3-C¹⁴ as substrate, the upper half of the cellulose monomer mirrored the lower half, both as to total content and distribution of C¹⁴. In each case, about 75% of the total radioactivity of the cellulose monomer was found in two carbon atoms (carbon pairs 3:4, 2:5, and 1:6, derived from pyruvate-1-, 2-, and 3-C¹⁴, respectively). The carbonyl carbon of pyruvate contributed 2 equivalents to the cellulose monomer, compared with 1.4 and 2.8 equivalents contributed by the pyruvate carboxyl and methyl carbons, respectively. Cellulose formed in the presence of pyruvate and C¹⁴O₂ was nonradioactive. The results suggest that the carbon chain of the cellulose monomer is formed in these cells via a condensation involving two molecules of a three-carbon compound. Reactions involving pyruvate which could account for the observed distribution of C¹⁴ in cellulose are discussed.