Glycolytic and Related Enzymes in Clostridial Classification

Abstract

The activities of 15 glycolytic and related enzymes were determined in clostridia. All contained 1-phosphofructokinase; three of them lacked 6-phosphofructokinase and mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was found in six clostridia, thus demonstrating the presence of hexose monophosphate shunt. Only parts of the citric acid cycle were found to be present in most clostridia with an indication of the full cycle in Clostridium septicum. The intermediary enzyme activities were used to differentiate between the different clostridia. Although clostridia are well-known for their production of wound and food toxins, they also have other interesting metabolic features. A review by Barker (1) indicated that a number of clostridia can ferment amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, allantoin, and nicotinic acid. Clostridium pasteurianum has been shown to fix atmospheric nitrogen (3, 6), C. sporogenes obtains its energy from the oxidation-reduction reaction between pairs of amino acids (20, 21), and still others were reported to ferment carbohydrates (3). The association of clostridia with anaerobic digestion has been indicated by several investigators. Bonde claimed that C. perfringens was a better indicator organism for sewage pollution of water than coliform bacteria (2). Johannsen found C. botulinium type E ubiquitous in the Baltic sea (12). Burbank et al. isolated anaerobic and facultative bacteria from the digestion process and identified, among others, C. carnofoetidum (4). Siebert and Toerien isolated C. bifermentans, C. tale, and C. perenne from anaerobic sludge (M. L. Siebert and D. F. Toerien, Water Res., in press),

2-Keto-3-Deoxygluconate, an Intermediate in the Fermentation of Gluconate by Clostridia

“…To our knowledge, gluconokinase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase have not been observed in these bacteria. The enzymes of the hexose monophosphate pathway, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, are present in a number of clostridia, however, in small amounts only (6,8,9).…”

Analysis of Clostridium botulinum Toxigenic Types A, B, and E for Fatty and Carbohydrate Content 1

“…The need for more rapid bacterial species identification, especially with genera associated with food-borne illness, is quite apparent. Several novel methods, including immunological and enzymatic, have been proposed (14). The present investigation suggests that principles of immunochemistry and gas chromatography can also be combined and utilized in this respect.…”

“…The lipid portions of C. botulinum types A, B, and E were found to contain essentially the same fatty acids but in different concentrations. Tetradecanoic (C: 14) and hexadecanoic (C:16) acids were found to be the predominant fatty acids in the whole cell extracts of types A, B, and E. Together they make up over 50% of the total fatty acids. Table 1 lists the fatty acids identified in the five microorganisms studied.…”

Utilizing Crude Waste Glycerol in the Biorefinery: Glycerol Gels for in Situ Substrate Delivery to Whole Cell Biocatalysts

“…C. butyricum lacks all the necessary enzymes to completely metabolise citric acid, as it contains only NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and not L-malate dehydrogenase (MDH). 36 Another recent study found that C.…”