Oxidative metabolism in Pediococcus pentosaceus. II. Factors controlling the formation of oxidative activities.

Dobrogosz, Walter J. (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park) and Robert W. Stone. Oxidative metabolism in Pediococcus pentosaceus. II. Factors controlling the formation of oxidative activities. J. Bacteriol. 84:724-729. 1962.-Studies were conducted on some factors which regulate the formation of oxidative activities in Pediococcus pentosaceus, a homofermentative lactic acid organism. Oxidative abilities were defined as the capacities to oxidize glucose and glycerol, and to exhibit catalase activity. Factors such as the type of growth substrate, the growth substrate concentration, pH, and oxygen tension were considered. The results suggested that the development of oxidative activities in this organism is under adaptive control and subject to repression by the well-known "glucose effect," as well as by anaerobiosis. In addition to the necessity for the formation of aerobic systems for the metabolism of glycerol, which can be utilized only under aerobic conditions, data are presented which suggest that aerobic reactions may play a physiologically important role toward the induction of growth on other substrates such as d-xylose and lactose.