AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC GLUCOSE-METABOLISM OF PHYTOMONAS SP ISOLATED FROM EUPHORBIA-CHARACIAS

Metabolic studies on Phytomonas sp. isolated from the lactiferous tube s of the latex-bearing spurge Euphorbia characias indicate that glucos e is the preferred energy and carbon substrate during logarithmic grow th. In stationary phase cells glucose consumption was dramatically red uced. Glucose consumption and end-product formation were measured on l ogarithmically growing cells, both under aerobic (air and 95% O-2/5% C O2) and anaerobic (95% N-2/5% CO2 and 100% N-2) conditions. The rate o f glucose consumption slightly increased under anaerobic conditions th at Phytomonas lacks a 'reverse Pasteur' effect contrary to the situati on encountered in Leishmania major. Major end-products of glucose cata bolism under aerobic conditions, detected by enzymatic and NMR measure ments, were acetate, ethanol and carbon dioxide and under anaerobic co nditions ethanol, glycerol and carbon dioxide. Smaller amounts of pyru vate, succinate, L-malate, L-lactate, phosphoenolpyruvate, alanine and aspartate were also detected.