Open AccessAnaerobic l ‐lactate degradation by Lactobacillus plantarum
Author(s) -
Lindgren Sven E.,
Axelsson Lars T.,
McFeeters Roger F.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1990.tb03998.x
Subject(s) - lactic acid , lactobacillus plantarum , fermentation , acetic acid , chemistry , formic acid , biochemistry , anaerobic exercise , silage , mixed acid fermentation , formate , succinic acid , pyruvic acid , lactobacillaceae , lactic acid fermentation , food science , lactobacillus , biology , bacteria , catalysis , physiology , genetics
Lactobacillus plantarum strains used as silage inoculants were investigated for their ability to metabolize lactic acid anaerobically after prolonged incubation (7–30 days) when glucose was absent from the medium. When citrate was present in the medium together with glucose during the initial fermentation, the lactic acid produced was degraded. Citrate was concomitantly degraded, resulting in accumulation of formic, acetic and succinic acids along with CO 2 . The anaerobic degradation was confirmed by the use of l 14 C(U) labelled lactate. The existence of pyruvate formate lyase in L. plantarum was indicated by using 14 C‐labelled pyruvate and HPLC identification of end‐products. The 1‐ 14 C‐carboxylic acid group of pyruvate was converted to formic acid, and the 3‐ 14 C was found in acetic acid. The key enzyme(s) in this metabolic pathway appears to require anaerobic conditions and induction by citrate.