THE EFFECT OF NOVOBIOCIN ON SOLVENT PRODUCTION BY CLOSTRIDIUM-ACETOBUTYLICUM

Cells of Clostridium acetobutylicum treated with novobiocin, a DNA gyr ase inhibitor, produced higher butyrate levels and lower solvent level s with acetone being the most affected, Seven enzyme activities involv ed in acid and solvent production were analyzed. Among them, only CoA transferase, required for acetone formation and acid uptake, experienc ed a significant decrease in activity, As in Escherichia coli and Baci llus subtilis, DNA from C. acetobutylicum became less negatively super coiled in the early stationary phase (solventogenic stage), as shown b y analysis of linking number of a reporter plasmid by agarose gel elec trophoresis in the presence of chloroquine.