Abstract
(1) It was ascertained that acetic, succinic, glycolic, pyruvic and α-ketoglutaric acids are derived from K-5-ketogluconate as the catabolic products in the presence of a trace of glucose under aerobic condition by intact cell suspension of Acetobacter suboxydans ATCC 621.
(2) The yield of α-ketoglutaric acid was about 3% of 5-ketogluconic acid supplied as the substrate and the former acid produced did not undergo further oxidation.
(3) It was ascertained that dried cells of this organism which were capable of oxidizing 5-ketogluconic acid did not oxidize the members of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and related compounds except oxalacetic acid. This result suggests that tricarboxylic acid cycle may not be operative in the degradation processes of 5-ketogluconic acid.
(4) Glycolaldehyde was oxidized by this organism quantitatively but glycolic acid produced could not be oxidized further.
(5) L-Tartaric acid could not be oxidized even though a small amount of glucose was added into the reaction system.
