A new coryneform hydrogen bacterium: Corynebacterium autotrophicum strain 7 C

Abstract

1. Corynebacterium autotrophicum strain 7 C was isolated from an enrichment culture designed for propane oxidizing bacteria. The cells are Grampositive, immotile, short, irregularly formed rods. The colonies are yellow-pigmented and slimy. The yellow pigmentation is due to carotenoids. 2. Growth occurs either autotrophically in mineral medium under an atmosphere of 70% H2+20% O2+10% CO2 or heterotrophically with fructose or many organic acids as substrates. 3. The hexoses and gluconate are degraded via the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase is not detectable. 4. A NAD reducing hydrogenase has not been detected; the hydrogenase is localized in the particle fraction of the crude extract and reduces methylene blue. The specific activity of hydrogenase in the crude extract of autotrophically grown cells is 2400 μl H2/mg protein · hr. During growth on fructose the enzyme is constitutively formed (1200 μl H2/mg protein · hr). 5. The utilization of fructose was suppressed by hydrogen. The inhibitory effect was significant, when either fully adapted or autotrophically grown cells were exposed to a hydrogen containing atmosphere.