EFFECT OF GROWTH SUBSTRATES ON FORMATION OF ALCOHOL-DEHYDROGENASE IN ACETOBACTER-METHANOLICUS AND ACETOBACTER-ACETI

Two different strains of acetic acid bacteria, Acetobacter methanolicu s and Acetobacter aceti, were grown on various carbon sources and thei r quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activities were measured. A . aceti was able to grow only on glycerol or glucose as a sole carbon source. The addition of another carbon source to a glycerol-containing medium promoted growth and increased the level of ADH activity. The r esults indicate that while ADH was constitutively produced under the g rowth conditions, an inactive form of ADH was formed besides the activ e form in cells grown in the medium containing glucose, acetic acid, o r succinic acid. A. methanolicus was able to grow on a variety of carb on sources. ADH was formed in cells grown on glycerol or ethanol but n ot on methanol. ADH was also produced in cells grown on glucose or suc cinic acid, but the major part seemed to be the inactive form. The ina ctive form of ADH was thus shown to be produced under various growth c onditions in both strains.