Occurrence of Glucomuramic Acid in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Analyses of 48 gram-positive bacteria indicate only glucomuramic acid and no galactomuramic acid in cell walls.     

Occurrence of beta-Aminoglutaric Acid in Marine Bacteria

beta-Aminoglutaric acid, a nonprotein amino acid isomer of glutamic acid, was found in the free amino acid pool of a marine bacterium, Alteromonas luteoviolacea. It was also found in a mixed culture of fermenting bacteria enriched from an anoxic marine sediment.     

Occurrence of Pyruvic Acid in Capsular Polysaccharides from Various Klebsiella Species

Capsular polysaccharide materials from several different klebsiella serotypes were demonstrated to contain an alpha-keto acid characterized as pyruvic acid. Linkage to the capsular polysaccharides was shown to be acid labile and alkali stable, suggesting ketosidic rather than ester linkages.     

Occurrence of β-Aminoglutaric Acid in Marine Bacteria

β-Aminoglutaric acid, a nonprotein amino acid isomer of glutamic acid, was found in the free amino acid pool of a marine bacterium, Alteromonas luteoviolacea. It was also found in a mixed culture of fermenting bacteria enriched from an anoxic marine sediment.     

Inactivation of the Phosphoenolpyruvate-Dependent Phosphotransferase System in Various Species of Bacteria by Vinylglycolic Acid

The alkenoic hydroxyacid 2-hydroxy-3-butenoic acid (vinylglycolate) specifically inhibited the phosphotransferase system in a variety of bacteria while not affecting respiration-coupled transport systems.     

Occurrence of Arginine Deiminase Pathway Enzymes in Arginine Catabolism by Wine Lactic Acid Bacteria

l-Arginine, an amino acid found in significant quantities in grape juice and wine, is known to be catabolized by some wine lactic acid bacteria. The correlation between the occurrence of arginine deiminase pathway enzymes and the ability to catabolize arginine was examined in this study. The activities of the three arginine deiminase pathway enzymes, arginine deiminase, ornithine transcarbamylase, and carbamate kinase, were measured in cell extracts of 35 strains of wine lactic acid bacteria. These enzymes were present in all heterofermentative lactobacilli and most leuconostocs but were absent in all the homofermentative lactobacilli and pediococci examined. There was a good correlation among arginine degradation, formation of ammonia and citrulline, and the occurrence of arginine deiminase pathway enzymes. Urea was not detected during arginine degradation, suggesting that the catabolism of arginine did not proceed via the arginase-catalyzed reaction, as has been suggested in some earlier studies. Detection of ammonia with Nessler's reagent was shown to be a simple, rapid test to assess the ability of wine lactic acid bacteria to degrade arginine, although in media containing relatively high concentrations (>0.5%) of fructose, ammonia formation is inhibited.