Propionate exchange reactions in methanogenic ecosystems.

Propionate degradation was measured with [1-C]- and [2-C]propionate in an anaerobic digestor. When [1-C]propionate was used, label disappeared more rapidly from the propionate pool than when [2-C]propionate was used. This indicated that an exchange reaction involving the carboxyl group of propionate occurred. Labeled propionate added to digestor samples which were equilibrated with H(2) lost label from the carboxyl group but not from the methylene group.