Synthesis of cellulose from pyruvate by succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum.

Benziman, Moshe (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel) and H. Burger-Rachamimov. Synthesis of cellulose from pyruvate by succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum. J. Bacteriol. 84:625-630. 1962.-Pyruvate was converted into cellulose by succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum. With pyruvate-1-, 2-, or 3-C(14) as substrate, the upper half of the cellulose monomer mirrored the lower half, both as to total content and distribution of C(14). In each case, about 75% of the total radioactivity of the cellulose monomer was found in two carbon atoms (carbon pairs 3:4, 2:5, and 1:6, derived from pyruvate-1-, 2-, and 3-C(14), respectively). The carbonyl carbon of pyruvate contributed 2 equivalents to the cellulose monomer, compared with 1.4 and 2.8 equivalents contributed by the pyruvate carboxyl and methyl carbons, respectively. Cellulose formed in the presence of pyruvate and C(14)O(2) was nonradioactive. The results suggest that the carbon chain of the cellulose monomer is formed in these cells via a condensation involving two molecules of a three-carbon compound. Reactions involving pyruvate which could account for the observed distribution of C(14) in cellulose are discussed.