On the Metabolism of Organic Acids by Clostridium acetobutylicum

Abstract

Pyridoxine analogues promoted the racemiase formation by Clostridium acetobutylicum. This effect was investigated employing culture media supplemented with these analogues. Pyridine, nicotinic acid and niacinamide, meanwhile, showed intensive inhibition on the formation of this enzyme. In these cases, scarcely any variation was detected in the growth of organism and the composition of fermentation products. In the crotonate-added culture, a considerable amount of latic acid accumulated and the formation of racemiase was accelerated remarkably.