The formation and consumption of lactobionic and maltobionic acids by Pseudomonas species.

Abstract

It has been shown that amongst 19 strains of 16 differentPseudomonas species four formed an appreciable amount of acid on a solid medium containing maltose, whilst six did the same on a solid medium containing lactose. ForPs. calco-acetica it was proved that this species brings about a rapid conversion of lactose into lactobionic acid (yield±85–90%). The same was found to hold forPs. quercitopyrogallica (yield±90 %), which species, moreover, is also able to convert maltose into maltobionic acid (yields varying between 65 and 80%). An investigation of later phases of these cultures showed that the primarily formed bionates slowly disappear. The two species in question are, therefore, able to spring the oxygen bridge between the two constituent parts of the bionic acids, and this makes it very likely that they are neither entirely devoid of the ability to split the disaccharides into the constituent hexoses.