THE INFLUENCE OF ENERGY DEFICIENCY-IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON THE CAPACITIES OF ACETOBACTER-METHANOLICUS TO OXIDIZE GLUCOSE AND TO PRODUCE GLUCONIC ACID

The presence of dinitrophenol (DNP) during the chemostatic growth of A cetobacter methanolicus on glucose led to i) no significant increase i n glucose dehydrogenase, ii) a decrease in the capacity to oxidize glu cose by about 30%, not depending on the DNP concentration, and iii) a gradual decrease in the capacity to form gluconic acid, depending on t he concentration of the uncoupler. Similar effects of DNP on Acetobact er methanolicus were observed during the gluconic acid formation proce ss. The loss in the capacity to form gluconic acid is indicated by a d rop in the ATP concentration of the cells which cannot be counteracted by the ATP syntheses originating from the oxidation of gluconic acid and of glucose. ATP could be necessary for pumping protons out of the cells that were taken up together with gluconic acid and by the effect of DNP.