RELATIONSHIP OF THE HEXOSE MONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT TO THE ENDOGENOUS METABOLISM OF CELL-FREE EXTRACTS OF MYCOBACTERIUM PHLEI

Sutton, W. B. (The Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Ind.). Relationship of the hexose monophosphate shunt to the endogenous metabolism of cell-free extracts of Mycobacterium phlei. J. Bacteriol. 85:476-484. 1963.-The endogenous reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DPIP) by cell-free extracts of Mycobacterium phlei has been linked to the presence of glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) dehydrogenase functioning in connection with a reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPN)-DPIP reductase. The necessary substrate and coenzyme, i.e., G-6-P and TPN, are contained in the cell-free bacterial extract. The only required addition to activate the system is a suitable electron acceptor. The accumulation of G-6-P and the presence of 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase in the cell-free extract suggest that the hexose monophosphate shunt mechanism is impaired by sonic treatment of M. phlei.