Evidence for a common pathway for pyruvate and acetate oxidation by Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus

Abstract

Studies are described which demonstrate a similarity between the oxidative patterns of pyruvate and acetate dissimilation by intact Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus cells. Observations which indicate this similarity are as follows: Sparking of acetate and pyruvate oxidation can be demonstrated using certain intermediates of known terminal oxidative pathways as sparkers. The patterns obtained with the two substrates are similar under such conditions. The degrees of inhibition of acetate and pyruvate oxidation by selective inhibitors of certain reactions in known terminal oxidative pathways are similar for the two substrates. The pattern of acetylmethylcarbinol formation from pyruvate and certain intermediates of known oxidative cycles and the alteration of this pattern by the addition of acetate suggest the existence of a common oxidative route; the mechanisms of this point are discussed. Although preliminary indications give evidence that the tricarboxylic acid cycle may be involved in the terminal oxidation of acetate and pyruvate, further work is required to demonstrate this more conclusively.