The Breakdown of Pyruvate by Asterococcus Mycoides, the Organism of Bovine Pleuropneumonia

Abstract

The pathway for pyruvate breakdown was investigated. Evidence was obtained that a-acetolactic acid does not participate in the pyruvate metabolism of this organism.

Replication of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Broth Culture

“…However, Ml. mycoides could utilize pyruvate anaerobically via the dismutation system to lactic acid, acetic acid, and CO2 (Rodwell and Rodwell, 1954b), whereas M. pneumoniae seems to lack this system.…”

The Pathway for Glucose Oxidation by Asterococcus Mycoides, the Organism of bovine Pleuropneumonia

“…Pyruvate was oxidatively decarboxylated, and was attacked anaerobically l:y the dismutation reaction. Evidence was presented (Rodwell and Rodwell 1954b) that the di:,;mutation system in A mycoides is similar to that described in Streptococcus faecalis, i.e. a diphosphopyridine-linked, pyruvic-lactic dehydrogenase system requiring cocarboxylase, Mg+ +, coenzyme A, and phosphate.…”

“…The organism, growth conditions, and methods of preparation and standardization of cell suspensions, the preparation of frozen and thawed suspensions, and the manometric and chemical methods used have all been described previously (Rodwell and Rodwell 1954a). Cell-free extract was prepared by grinding lyophilized cells with "Alloxite" as described (Rodwell and Rodwell 1954b ).…”

Comparative Physiology of Pleuropneumonia-Like and L-Type Organisms

“…mycoides (107) may represent a strain difference. Rodwell and Rodwell (106,107,108), working with M. mycoides, found that methylene blue, ferricyanide, or NAD would replace oxygen as electron acceptor in oxidation reactions, and in a study of pyruvate oxidation they noted that 2,4-dinitrophenol and sodium azide were noninhibitory. They concluded that terminal oxidations by this organism were fiavoprotein-catalyzed and that no cytochrome system existed.…”