GLYOXYLATE FERMENTATION BYSTREPTOCOCCUS ALLANTOICUS

Valentine , R. C. (University of Illinois, Urbana), H.Drucker, and R. S. Wolfe . Glyoxylate fermentation byStreptococcus allantoicus . J. Bacteriol.87: 241–246. 1964.—Extracts ofStreptococcus allantoicus were found to degrade glyoxylate, yielding tartronic semialdehyde and CO2 . Tartronic semialdehyde was prepared chemically, and its properties were compared with the enzymatic product: reduction by sodium borohydride yielded glycerate; heating at 100 C yielded glycolaldehyde and CO2 ; autoxidation yielded mesoxalic semialdehyde; periodate oxidation yielded glyoxylate and a compound presumed to be formate. Tartronic semialdehyde reductase was present in extracts ofS. allantoicus and in a species ofPseudomonas grown on allantoin. A scheme for the synthesis of acetate from glyoxylate byS. allantoicus is discussed.