The activities of hydrogenase and enoate reductase in two Clostridium species,their interrelationship and dependence on growth conditions

The enzyme activities of Clostridium La 1 and Clostridium kluyveri involved in the stereospecific hydrogenation of ,-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with hydrogen gas were measured. In C. La 1 the specific activities of hydrogenase and enoate reductase depended heavily on the growth phase and the composition of the medium. During growth in batch cultures on 70 mM crotonate the specific activity of hydrogenase increased and then dropped to about 10% of its maximum value, whereas the activity of enoate reductase reached its maximum in cells of the stationary phase. Under certain conditions during growth the activity ratio hydrogenase: enoate reductase changed from 120 to 1. Thus, the rate limiting enzyme for the hydrogenation can be either the hydrogenase or the enoate reductase, depending on the growth conditions of the cells.The specific activities of ferredoxin-NAD reductase and butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase increased 3-4-fold during growth on crotonate. By turbidostatic experiments it was shown that at constant input of high crotonate concentrations (200 mM) the enoate reductase activity was almost completely suppressed; it increased steadily with decreasing crotonate down to an input concentration of 35 mM.Glucose as carbon source led to high hydrogenase and negligible enoate reductase activities. The latter could be induced by changing the carbon source of the medium from glucose to crotonate. Tetracycline inhibited the formation of enoate reductase.A series of other carbon sources was tested. They can be divided into ones which result in high hydrogenase and rather low enoate reductase activities and others which cause the reverse effect.When the Fe²⁺ concentration in crotonate medium was growth limiting, cells with relatively high hydrogenase activity and very low enoate reductase activity in the stationary phase were obtained. At Fe²⁺ concentrations above 3·10^-7 M enoate reductase increased and hydrogenase activity reached its minimum. The ratio of activities changes by a factor of about 200. In a similar way the dependence of enzyme activities on the concentration of sulfate was studied.In batch cultures of Clostridium kluyveri a similar opposite time course of enoate reductase and hydrogenase was found.The possible physiological significance of this behavior is discussed.Non Standard Abbreviations O.D.₅₇₈ Optical density at 578 nm Dedicated to Professor Dr. O. Kandler on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Characterization of crotonate grown Clostridium kluyveri by its assimilatory metabolism

Summary Considerable behavioral differences were observed during growth of Clostridium kluyveri on ethanol-acetate and on crotonate media. The identity of the crotonate grown Clostridium with the ethanol grown Clostridium kluyveri was therefore established by three characteristic biosynthetic routes: 1. ribose is synthesized from CO₂ and acetate via pyruvate, triose phosphate and a non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, 2. reduced one-carbon units are formed predominantly from CO₂ and not from serine as usual, and 3. glutamate biogenesis follows an atypical stereochemical course.This paper contains parts of the doctoral thesis of J. W., Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Freiburg, 1968.     

Studies on the substrate range of Clostridium kluyveri; the use of propanol and succinate

The metabolism of Clostridium kluyveri has been extensively studied, but the range of substrates C. kluyveri can use for growth has not been fully explored. The use of propanol and succinate as growth substrates were established. C. kluyveri grows on acetate with propanol replacing ethanol. The principle carbon containing products were propionate, valerate, butyrate and hexanoate with traces of heptanoate. When grown with ethanol and succinate the principle carbon-containing products were acetate, butyrate and hexanoate. Hexanol was found as a product when incubated with ethanol and succinate 4-hydroxybutyrate or 3-butenoate. 5-Hexenoate was also a product of 3-butenoate and ethanol metabolism. The splitting of succinate into 2 acetates was indicated with ethanol providing the necessary reducing equivalents. Hydrogen was also found as a source of reducing equivalents but could not replace ethanol. A mechanism of succinate metabolism to acetate was proposed which accounts for growth yield, energetics considerations, carbon balances, production of side products and intermediates.Contribution No. 3619     

Clostridium viride sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic bacterium using 5-aminovalerate as growth substrate,previously assigned to Clostridium aminovalericum

Strain T2–7, a 5-aminovalerate-fermenting bacterium previously classified as Clostridium aminovalericum, was further characterized, both physiologically and phylogenetically. Comparative sequencing analysis of the almost complete 16S rDNA revealed that strain T2–7 forms a distinct lineage within a phylogenetically coherent cluster of gram-positive bacteria currently assigned to the genus Clostridium. Strain T2–7 grew with 5-aminovalerate, 5-hydroxyvalerate, 4-hydroxybutyrate, vinylacetate, and crotonate, and required yeast extract and l-cysteine for growth. Other substrates were not utilized. The fermentation products, depending on the growth substrate, were ammonia, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate. Sulphur was reduced by a mechanism not linked to energy conservation. Other acceptors were not utilized. Cells were gram-positive pointed-ended ovals, motile by means of two subpolar flagella, and possessed a gram-positive cell wall structure with an S-layer of hexagonally arranged subunits of 18.5 nm diameter. The DNA mol% G+C was 41.5. Strain T2–7 (DSM 6836) is proposed as the type strain of a new species, Clostridium viride sp. nov. Dedicated to H. A. Barker on the occasion of his 87th birthday     

Considerations on the energy metabolism of Clostridium kluyveri

Summary On the basis of the known fermentation balance and of the enzyme activities reported in Clostridium kluyveri the ethanol-acetate fermentation of Clostridium kluyveri has been analyzed with respect to possible ATP-yielding reactions and to the significance of the evolution of hydrogen gas during the fermentation. The fermentation pathway presented allows the following conclusions: hydrogen gas is an essential end product of the ethanol-acetate fermentation. For each two moles of hydrogen gas evolved one mole of acetyl coenzyme A becomes available to the cells for ATP synthesis, and it is not necessary to assume that ATP is synthesized by Clostridium kluyveri by electron transport phosphorylation. Hydrogen gas must be formed in the dehydrogenation of acetaldehyde. Since Clostridium kluyveri contains a NAD reductase, less than one mole of hydrogen gas is formed per mole of acetaldehyde oxidized, thus explaining that acetate is required for the fermentation of ethanol.It could be demonstrated that growth of Clostridium kluyveri is slow in a hydrogen atmosphere as compared with growth in an argon atmosphere. The general fermentation equation constructed is in accordance with the experimental data of Bornstein and Barker and of Thauer et al.

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Zusammenfassung Auf der Grundlage bekannter Gärungsanalysen und der in zellfreien Extrakten nachgewiesenen Enzymaktivitäten wurde die Äthanol-Acetat-Gärung von Clostridium kluyveri auf mögliche Energie liefernde Reaktionen hin untersucht. Das entworfene Schema der Äthanol-Acetat-Gärung erlaubt folgende Schlußfolgerungen: Die Bildung von molekularem Wasserstoff während der Gärung its von elementarer Bedeutung für den Energiestoffwechsel von C. kluyveri. Je Mol freigesetzten Wasserstoffs stehen C. kluyveri 0,5 Mole Acetyl-Coenzym A für die Energiegewinnung zur Verfügung, und es ist überflüssig, eine ATP-Synthese durch Elektronentransport-Phosphorylierung anzunehmen. Der molekulare Wasserstoff muß bei der Dehydrogenierung des Acetaldehyds gebildet werden. Da hierbei weniger als ein Mol molekularer Wasserstoff je Mol Acetaldehyd entsteht und ein Teil des Wasserstoffs auf NAD übertragen wird, ist Acetat als Wasserstoffacceptor für die Vergärung des Äthanols notwendig.Die abgeleitete Gärungsgleichung stimmt mit den von Bornstein und Barker und von Thauer et al. ermittelten Gärungsbilanzen überein. Es konnte nachgewiesen werden, daß C. kluyveri in einer Wasserstoffatmosphäre sehr viel langsamer wächst als in einer Argonatmosphäre.

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Abbreviations ATP adenosine triphosphate - CoA coenzyme A - Fd_red reduced ferredoxin - NAD(P) nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide(phosphate)     

Synthetic co-culture of autotrophic Clostridium carboxidivorans and chain elongating Clostridium kluyveri monitored by flow cytometry

Syngas fermentation with acetogens is known to produce mainly acetate and ethanol efficiently. Co-cultures with chain elongating bacteria making use of these products are a promising approach to produce longer-chain alcohols. Synthetic co-cultures with identical initial cell concentrations of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri were studied in batch-operated stirred-tank bioreactors with continuous CO/CO₂-gassing and monitoring of the cell counts of both clostridia by flow cytometry after fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH-FC). At 800 mbar CO, chain elongation activity was observed at pH 6.0, although growth of C. kluyveri was restricted. Organic acids produced by C. kluyveri were reduced by C. carboxidivorans to the corresponding alcohols butanol and hexanol. This resulted in a threefold increase in final butanol concentration and enabled hexanol production compared with a mono-culture of C. carboxidivorans. At 100 mbar CO, growth of C. kluyveri was improved; however, the capacity of C. carboxidivorans to form alcohols was reduced. Because of the accumulation of organic acids, a constant decay of C. carboxidivorans was observed. The measurement of individual cell concentrations in co-culture established in this study may serve as an effective tool for knowledge-based identification of optimum process conditions for enhanced formation of longer-chain alcohols by clostridial co-cultures.     

Isolation of Clostridium propionicum strain 19acry3 and further characteristics of the species

Two mixed cultures able to ferment acrylate to equimolar acetate and propionate were enriched from anaerobic sediments. From one of these mixed cultures a pure culture of a Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic bacterium was isolated. This strain, designated 19acry3 (= DSM 6251) was identified as belonging to the species Clostridium propionicum. Only a narrow range of organic compounds supported growth, including acrylate and lactate. Acrylate and lactate were fermented to acetate and propionate in a 1:2 molar ratio. When co-cultured with the non-acrylate-fermenting Campylobacter sp. strain 19gly1 (DSM 6222), the fermentation balance shifted to almost equimolar acetate and propionate. Strain 19acry3 was compared with Clostridium propionicum type strain X2 (DSM 1682). The two strains displayed similar phenotypic properties. The mol% G+C of DNA isolated from both strains was 36–37 (by thermal denaturation). Both strains displayed a characteristic fluorescence when observed by fluorescence microscopy. Cell-free extracts of both strains were examined by spectrophotofluorimetry. In both strains, two excitation peaks were observed at 378 and 470 nm. Excitation at either of these wavelengths resulted in an emission maximum at 511 nm.     

Surface properties from the S-layer of Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum D120-70 and Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum L111-69

Labelling experiments using a positively charged topographical marker for electron microscopy, polycationized ferritin, showed that the S-layers of two closely related clostridia Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum L111-69 and C. thermosaccharolyticum D120-70 do not exhibit a net negative charge, as usually observed for bacterial cell surfaces. Chemical modification of reactive sites confirmed that amino and carboxyl groups are exposed on the S-layer surface of both strains. Amino-specific, bifunctional agents crosslinked both S-layer lattices. Studies with carbodiimides revealed that only the S-layer surface of C. thermohydrosulfuricum L111-69 had amino and carboxyl groups closely enough aligned to permit electrostatic interactions between the constituent protomers. The regular structure of this S-layer lattice was lost upon converting the carboxyl groups into neutral groups by amidation. Disintegration of both S-layer lattices occurred upon N-acetylation or N-succinylation of the free amino groups. Adhesion experiments showed that in neutral and weakly alkaline environment whole cells of C. thermosaccharolyticum D120-70 exhibited a stronger tendency to bind to charged surfaces than whole cells of C. thermohydrosulfuricum L111-69, but showed a lower tendency to bind to hydrophobic materials.     

克氏梭菌硫解酶的鉴定及其功能研究

【目的】硫解酶是梭菌属微生物合成短中链脂肪酸的关键酶。克氏梭菌(Clostridium kluyveri)具有3个高度同源的硫解酶编码基因,对这3个基因的功能鉴定是解析克氏梭菌高己酸合成能力的关键。【方法】通过发酵动力学分析确定克氏梭菌的己酸和丁酸生成动力学特征;转录组测序结合反转录-荧光定量RCR分析克氏梭菌3个硫解酶编码基因的表达水平和时序表达特征;在大肠杆菌中异源表达这3个硫解酶,并对其硫解酶动力学参数进行测定。【结果】克氏梭菌生成丁酸、己酸、辛酸,其中己酸为主要代谢产物;转录组数据显示,在乙酸消耗完全之前,thlA1基因维持恒定表达,thlA2基因表达时序上调,thlA3基因表达时序下调,转录组测序表明3个硫解酶编码基因均具有较高水平的转录活性,thlA2和thlA3的最高表达量分别约为thlA1的29%和43%;硫解酶动力学参数测定结果表明,克氏梭菌3个硫解酶对于四碳底物均显示出相似的底物亲和力(K_m),但ThlA1对四碳底物的催化效率(k_(cat)/K_m)略低于ThlA2和ThlA3。【结论】克氏梭菌的3个硫解酶均具有催化活性,在克氏梭菌体内均呈活跃表达,表明克氏梭菌拥有3个具有催化活性的硫解酶,这为后续深入研究克氏梭菌己酸合成机理奠定了基础。     

Taxonomy of the glycerol fermenting clostridia and description of Clostridium diolis sp. nov

Six Clostridium strains which ferment glycerol to 1,3-propanediol were tested for their taxonomic and phylogenetic relatedness. All but one were known as C butyricum. By physiological tests, 16S rDNA sequences and fatty acid composition two groups were distinguished. The first comprised the strains VPI 3266, DSM 2478 and DSM 523 (C. "kainantoi") and was consistent with the type strain of C. butyricum in almost all characters. The second group comprising the strains DSM 5430, DSM 5431 and E5 was related to C. beijerinckii. The 16S rDNAs of these strains were almost identical with that of the type strain of C. beijerinckii, DSM 791. The DNA-DNA hybridization value of DSM 5431 and ES with C. beijerinckii DSM 791 was markedly but not decisively lower (67 and 72%, respectively). However, there were significant physiological differences to C. beijerinckii which suggested to describe the strains as a separate species, Clostridium diolis with strain SH1 (= DSM 5431) as the type strain. The new species is distinguished from C. beijerinckii, which requires complex nutrients, by its ability to grow in glucose mineral medium with biotin as the only growth factor and by differences in substrate utilization. "C. kainantoi" Takeda and Matsui was recognized as a later synonym of C. butyricum.     

Production of 1,3-propanediol by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium butyricum</Emphasis> VPI 3266 using a synthetic medium and raw glycerol

Growth inhibition of Clostridium butyricum VPI 3266 by raw glycerol, obtained from the biodiesel production process, was evaluated. C. butyricum presents the same tolerance to raw and to commercial glycerol, when both are of similar grade, i.e. above 87% (w/v). A 39% increase of growth inhibition was observed in the presence of 100 g l^–1 of a lower grade raw glycerol (65% w/v). Furthermore, 1,3-propanediol production from two raw glycerol types (65% w/v and 92% w/v), without any prior purification, was observed in batch and continuous cultures, on a synthetic medium. No significant differences were found in C. butyricum fermentation patterns on raw and commercial glycerol as the sole carbon source. In every case, 1,3-propanediol yield was around 0.60 mol/mol glycerol consumed.     

Monitoring co-cultures of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri by fluorescence in situ hybridization with specific 23S rRNA oligonucleotide probes

The development of co-cultures of clostridial strains which combine different physiological traits represents a promising strategy to achieve the environmentally friendly production of biofuels and chemicals. For the optimization of such co-cultures it is essential to monitor their composition and stability throughout fermentation. FISH is a quick and sensitive method for the specific labeling and quantification of cells within microbial communities. This technique is neither limited by the anaerobic fermenter environment nor by the need of prior genetic modification of strains. In this study, two specific 23S rRNA oligonucleotide probes, ClosKluy and ClosCarb, were designed for the monitoring of C. kluyveri and C. carboxidivorans, respectively. After the optimization of hybridization conditions for both probes, which was achieved at 30% (v/v) formamide, a high specificity was observed with epifluorescence microscopy using cells from different pure reference strains. The discriminating properties of the ClosKluy and ClosCarb probes was verified with samples from heterotrophic co-cultures in anaerobic flasks as well as autotrophic stirred-tank bioreactor co-cultures of C. kluyveri and C. carboxidivorans. Besides being suited to monitor defined co-cultures of these two species, the new specific FISH oligonucleotide probes for C. kluyveri and C. carboxidivorans additionally have potential to be applied in environmental studies.     

Acetyl coenzyme A and coenzyme A contents of growing Clostridium kluyveri as determined by isotope assays

CoASH and some of its acyl derivatives, especially acetyl-SCoA, occupy a central position in the energy metabolism of the anaerobic Clostridium kluyveri, both as intermediates and as regulatory effectors. The steady state concentrations of these compounds were determined in growing cultures of this organism using an anaerobic and fast deproteinization technique and radio isotope assays. Acetyl-SCoA was determined as [1-¹⁴C]citrate formed in the presence of [4-¹⁴C]oxaloacetate and citrate synthase; 0.49 mol/g cell wet wt. were found CoASH, CoAS-SCoA after borohydride reduction, and total acyl derivatives of coenzyme A after hydrolysis of the thiol esters were converted to thioethers with [2,3-¹⁴C]N-ethylmaleimide and brought to radiochemical purity by chromatographic methods. While disulfides of coenzyme A were undetectable, 0.13 mol CoASH and 1.17 mol of total acyl-SCoA per g wet wt. were found. These data are consistent with the regulatory scheme of the energy metabolism of C. kluyveri previously proposed.Abbreviations DTE dithioerythritol - NEM N-ethylmaleimide - NES N-ethylsuccinimide Enzymes (EC 2.7.2.1) Acetate kinase, ATP: acetate phosphotransferase - (EC 3.1.3.1) Alkaline phosphatase, orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase - (GOT) Aspartate aminotransferase - (EC 2.6.1.1) L-aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase - (CS) Citrate synthase - (EC 4.1.3.7) citrate oxaloacetate-lyase (pro 3S-CH₂COOacetyl-CoA) - (EC 2.8.3.8) CoA-transferase, acyl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase - (EC 1.1.1.37) Malate dehydrogenase, L-malate:NAD⁺ oxidoreductase - (EC 1.18.1.3) NADH:ferredoxin reductase, ferredoxin:NAD⁺ oxidoreductase - (EC 3.1.4.1) Phosphodiesterase (snake venom), orthophosphoric diester phosphohydrolase - (EC 2.3.1.8) Phosphotransacetylase, acetyl-CoA:orthophosphate acetyltransferase - (EC 2.3.1.9) Thiolase, acetyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase A preliminary account of this work has been given (Decker et al. 1976)     

Succinate-ethanol fermentation in Clostridium kluyveri: purification and characterisation of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase/vinylacetyl-CoA Δ3-Δ2-isomerase

Anaerobically prepared cell extracts of Clostridium kluyveri grown on succinate plus ethanol contained high amounts of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase, which catalyzes the reversible dehydration of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to crotonyl-CoA. The enzyme was purified 12-fold under strictly anaerobic conditions to over 95% homogeneity and had a specific activity of 123 nkat mg^-1. The finding of this dehydratase means that all of the enzymes necessary for fermentation of succinate plus ethanol by C. kluyveri have now been demonstrated to exist in this organism and confirms the proposed pathway involving a reduction of succinate via 4-hydroxybutyrate to butyrate. Interestingly, the enzyme is almost identical to the previously isolated 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase from Clostridium aminobutyricum. The dehydratase was revealed as being a homotetramer (m=59 kDa/subunit), containing 2±0.2 mol FAD, 13.6±0.8 mol Fe and 10.8±1.2 mol inorganic sulfur. The enzyme was irreversibly inactivated after exposure to air. Reduction by sodium dithionite also yielded an inactive enzyme which could be reactivated, however, up to 84% by oxidation with potassium hexacyanoferrate(III). The enzyme possesses an intrinsic vinylacetyl-CoA isomerase activity which was also found in 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase from C. aminobutyricum. Moreover, the N-terminal sequences of the dehydratases from both organisms were found to be 63% identical.     

Electron microscopic study on the quaternary structure of the isolated particulate alcohol-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase complex and on its identity with the polygonal bodies of Clostridium kluyveri

The alcohol-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase complex of Clostridium kluyveri has been separated from contaminating -hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase by repeated precipitation with manganese and ammonium sulfate. Mn⁺⁺ was required for maximum alcohol dehydrogenase activity.The molecular weight of the enzyme complex was 194,000 as determined by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme complex has been shown to contain two types of subunits with molecular weights of 55,000±2,600 and 42,000±1,200, respectively which are arranged in H-shaped particles.In solutions with an ionic strength above 25 mM the enzyme complex precipitated in the form of lumps as has been shown with specific ferritin-conjugated antibodies. These lumps are assumed to be aggregated polygonal bodies present in C. kluyveri.     

Microbial Conversion of Glycerol to 1,3-Propanediol: Physiological Comparison of a Natural Producer, Clostridium butyricum VPI 3266, and an Engineered Strain, Clostridium acetobutylicum DG1(pSPD5)

Clostridium acetobutylicum is not able to grow on glycerol as the sole carbon source since it cannot reoxidize the excess of NADH generated by glycerol catabolism. Nevertheless, when the pSPD5 plasmid, carrying the NADH-consuming 1,3-propanediol pathway from C. butyricum VPI 3266, was introduced into C. acetobutylicum DG1, growth on glycerol was achieved, and 1,3-propanediol was produced. In order to compare the physiological behavior of the recombinant C. acetobutylicum DG1(pSPD5) strain with that of the natural 1,3-propanediol producer C. butyricum VPI 3266, both strains were grown in chemostat cultures with glycerol as the sole carbon source. The same “global behavior” was observed for both strains: 1,3-propanediol was the main fermentation product, and the qH₂ flux was very low. However, when looking at key intracellular enzyme levels, significant differences were observed. Firstly, the pathway for glycerol oxidation was different: C. butyricum uses a glycerol dehydrogenase and a dihydroxyacetone kinase, while C. acetobutylicum uses a glycerol kinase and a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Secondly, the electron flow is differentially regulated: (i) in C. butyricum VPI 3266, the in vitro hydrogenase activity is 10-fold lower than that in C. acetobutylicum DG1(pSPD5), and (ii) while the ferredoxin-NAD⁺ reductase activity is high and the NADH-ferredoxin reductase activity is low in C. acetobutylicum DG1(pSPD5), the reverse is observed for C. butyricum VPI 3266. Thirdly, lactate dehydrogenase activity is only detected in the C. acetobutylicum DG1(pSPD5) culture, explaining why this microorganism produces lactate.     

Screening for plasmids in the genus Clostridium

A plasmid screening was performed on 150 strains out of 75 clostridial species using a modification of the alkaline-lysis procedure. In 26 strains representing 21 species one or more plasmid bands were detected ranging in size from 3 to more than 100 kilobase pairs. Clostridium aceticum proved to contain a single small plasmid (pCA1) of 5.4 kbp as revealed by restriction analysis and electron microscopy. A physical map of pCA1 has been constructed. Spontaneous mutants of C. aceticum defective in autotrophic growth have been isolated. No direct correlation between plasmid content and autotrophy could be found.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethane-sulfonic acid - TAE Trisacetate-EDTA - Tris tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane     

Production of poly-D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate and poly-D(-)-3-hydroxyvalerate by strains ofAlcaligenes latus

Alcaligenes latus strains can accumulate poly-D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) up to about 85% of cell dry weight. The abilities to store poly-D(-)-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHV) of three strains ofA. latus were investigated. With Na-propionate as PHV precursor, strainA. latusDSM 1122 had better PHV accumulation ability than strainsA. latusDSM 1123 and 1124. StrainA. latus DSM 1123 could store PHV when Na-valerate but not Na-propionate served as the PHV precursor. PHB and PHV accumulation byA. latus DSM 1124 rapidly increased when propionic acid and acetic acid were together added to the fermentor. This increase was not obtained in the culture shaker flask and fermentor growing the same strain when Na-propionate alone served as a PHV precursor.     

Pyruvate decarboxylases from the petite-negative yeast<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Saccharomyces kluyveri</Emphasis>

Saccharomyces kluyveri is a petite-negative yeast, which is less prone to form ethanol under aerobic conditions than is S. cerevisiae. The first reaction on the route from pyruvate to ethanol is catalysed by pyruvate decarboxylase, and the differences observed between S. kluyveri and S. cerevisiae with respect to ethanol formation under aerobic conditions could be caused by differences in the regulation of this enzyme activity. We have identified and cloned three genes encoding functional pyruvate decarboxylase enzymes ( PDC genes) from the type strain of S. kluyveri (Sk-PDC11, Sk-PDC12 and Sk-PDC13). The regulation of pyruvate decarboxylase in S. kluyveri was studied by measuring the total level of Sk-PDC mRNA and the overall enzyme activity under various growth conditions. It was found that the level of Sk-PDC mRNA was enhanced by glucose and oxygen limitation, and that the level of enzyme activity was controlled by variations in the amount of mRNA. The mRNA level and the pyruvate decarboxylase activity responded to anaerobiosis and growth on different carbon sources in essentially the same fashion as in S. cerevisiae. This indicates that the difference in ethanol formation between these two yeasts is not due to differences in the regulation of pyruvate decarboxylase(s), but rather to differences in the regulation of the TCA cycle and the respiratory machinery. However, the PDC genes of Saccharomyces/Kluyveromyces yeasts differ in their genetic organization and phylogenetic origin. While S. cerevisiae and S. kluyveri each have three PDC genes, these have apparently arisen by independent duplications and specializations in each of the two yeast lineages.Communicated by C. P. Hollenberg     

Conjugal transfer and expression of streptococcal transposons in Clostridium acetobutylicum

The transposon-containing streptococcal plasmids pAM211, pCF10, and pINY1275 have been transferred at high frequency (10^-2–10^-3 per recipient, selecting for tetracycline resistance) to the Gram-positive anaerobe Clostridium acetobutylicum. Selection in the presence of two antibiotics (tetracycline and erythromycin) with the plasmids pAM 180 and pINY1275 yielded only low numbers of transconjugants (10^-8 per recipient). Matings were done by combining liquid and filter mating procedures under anaerobic conditions. No plasmid DNA could be detected in the transconjugants selected on a minimal medium in the presence of tetracycline. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments with restricted chromosomal DNA using biotinylated pAM120::Tn916 as probe revealed the presence of homologous sequences in the transconjugants but not in Clostridium acetobutylicum wild type. The transconjugants were used as donors in mating experiments with tetracycline-sensitive Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus lactis subspec. diacetylactis. In both cases tetracycline-resistant strains were found. Transfer frequencies in these experiments were less than 10^-7 per recipient.