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Anaerobic acetate oxidation to CO2 by Desulfobacter postgatei

2. Evidence from 14C-labelling studies for the operation of the citric acid cycle

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Abstract

All the enzymes required for the oxidation of acetate to CO2 via the citric acid cycle were found in Desulfobacter postgatei. To obtain in vivo evidence for the operation of this cycle, the sulfate reducing bacterium was grown on [14C]acetate in the presence of a large pool of 12CO2 and the incorporation of 14C into glutamate (≙ 2-oxoglutarate), aspartate (≙ oxaloacetate), and alanine (≙ pyruvate) was studied. The labelling data were found to be consistent with (i) the oxidation of acetate to CO2 via the reactions of the citric acid cycle, (ii) the synthesis of citrate via a citrate (si)-synthase, and (iii) the anaplerotic synthesis of oxaloacetate from acetate and 2 CO2 via pyruvate as intermediate.

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Gebhardt, N.A., Linder, D. & Thauer, R.K. Anaerobic acetate oxidation to CO2 by Desulfobacter postgatei . Arch. Microbiol. 136, 230–233 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409850

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409850

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