Abstract
Each of the original, M, WRT and RT variants of the test organism was inoculated into either one of the physiological or dilute phosphate buffer solution containing galactose and BTB or BCP, and the changes produced in pH were followed by repeated observation. At the same time, galactose consumption was determined availing Somogyi's method. And, thus, the investigations were made on the shifting of galactose fermentability accompanying so-called circulatory variation of O → M→ RT. Results obtained were as follows :
M and MT were found to ferment galactose in view of the lowering in pH and carbohydrate consumption. This consumption, however, was smallest with M, followed by a slightly larger amount of consumption with MT. While, it was rather remarkable with WRT and extremely remarkable with O and RT. The types of microorganisms remained unchanged after undergoing the present experiment. Galactose consumption by these microorganisms was inferior to that of glucose. An inference was given that the reason why the galactose consumption of M and MT is weak is the inability of the galactolytic enzymes in performing their serial functions.
In view of the findings stated above, an inference was given that the variation of O→M→WRT→RT is not a kind of the loss and gain variation of galactose fermentability but is a kind of the enforcement and weakening variation.
