Comparison of carbon metabolism between chloramphenicol-treated and untreated cultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum

Summary Carbon distribution from substrates to products in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was investigated by adding ¹⁴C-labeled substrates as tracers. Comparison of carbon conversion between chloramphenicol (CAP)-treated and untreated cultures was also studied. The percentage of ¹⁴C recovery in butanol, acetone and ethanol from uniformly labeled ¹⁴C]glucose was increased by 17, 25 and 30%, respectively, after CAP addition. The incorporation of ¹⁴C in solvents from ¹⁴C-labeled acetate and butyrate was also increased by the antibiotic treatment. A total ¹⁴C recovery of 12% in all the products from added ¹⁴C]Na₂CO₃ indicates significant heterotrophic CO₂ fixation in this microorganism. The ratio of carbon in butanol derived from glucose, acetate and butyrate was about 71:6:18, and this ratio was unchanged by CAP treatment.This paper represents contribution No. 2685 of the Rhode Island Agricultural Experimental StationCorrespondence to: R. W. Traxler