Abstract
Growing cells of Acidaminococcus fermentans (DSM 20731 and ATCC 25085) fermented trans-aconitate via citrate, oxaloacetate, and pyruvate to approximately 2 CO2, 1.8 acetate, 0.1 butyrate and 0.9 H2. The carbon and electron recoveries were close to 100%. On citrate no growth was observed and washed cells were unable to ferment this tricarboxylate. In cell-free extracts, however, citrate as well as trans-aconitate were readily fermented to CO2 and acetate. Under these conditions, also cis-aconitate, oxaloacetate, and pyruvate were formed, whereas butyrate and intermediates of glutamate fermentation, 2-oxoglutatrate and glutaconate, could not be detected. Citrate Si-lyase, a Mg2+-dependent oxaloacetate decarboxylase, and pyruvate synthase were present in quantities that corresponded to the growth rate of the organism.
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Received: 3 May 1996 / Accepted: 12 August
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Härtel, U., Buckel, W. Fermentation of trans-aconitate via citrate, oxaloacetate, and pyruvate by Acidaminococcus fermentans. Arch Microbiol 166, 342–349 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030050393
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030050393