Oxidative and reductive routes of glycerol and glucose fermentation by Escherichia coli batch cultures and their regulation by oxidizing and reducing reagents at different pHs.

Glycerol and glucose fermentation redox routes by Escherichia coli and their regulation by oxidizing and reducing reagents were investigated at different pHs. Cell growth was followed by decrease of pH and redox potential (E ( h )). During glycerol utilization at pH 7.5 ∆pH, the difference between initial and end pH, was lower compared with glucose fermentation. After 8 h growth, during glycerol utilization E ( h ) dropped down to negative values (-150 mV) but during glucose fermentation it was positive (+50 mV). In case of glycerol H(2) was evolved at the middle log phase while during glucose fermentation H(2) was produced during early log phase. Furthermore, upon glycerol utilization, oxidizer potassium ferricyanide (1 mM) inhibited both cell growth and H(2) formation. Reducing reagents DL-dithiothreitol (3 mM) and dithionite (1 mM) inhibited growth but stimulated H(2) production. The findings point out the importance of reductive conditions for glycerol fermentation and H(2) production by E. coli.