Abstract
Structural requirement of a substrate in oxidation of aldonic acids by Acetobacter suboxydans was examined using intact cells. Of the various aldonic acids examined, the secondary alcohol adjacent to the primary alcohol was oxidized in D-gluconic acid, D-glycero-D-gulo-heptonic acid, and D-erythro-L-talo-octonic acid. It was thereby found that the rule of polyol oxidation was not applicable for aldonic acid oxidation by this bacteria and it was assumed that the secondary alcohol adjacent to the primary alcohol is oxidized when the acid possesses D-gluco-type structure in the molecular terminal, as viewed from the primary alcohol, and does not possess trans-hydroxyl between its D-gluco-type structure and carboxyl group.
