Requirement for coenzyme A in the phosphoroclastic reaction of anaerobic bacteria.

Various bacteria which degrade pyruvate by the phosphoroclastic reaction were examined with respect to the role of coenzyme A (CoA) in this reaction. The strictly anaerobic bacteria, which cleave pyruvate by the phosphoroclastic reaction characteristic of Clostridia, required catalytic levels of CoA for the CO(2)-pyruvate exchange and acetoin-forming portions of the phosphoroclastic reaction. These reactions were reversibly inhibited by the CoA analogue, desulfo-CoA. In contrast, using cell-free extracts of bacteria which degrade pyruvate by the coliform phosphoroclastic reaction (pyruvate formate-lyase), no requirement for CoA could be observed for the formate-pyruvate exchange reaction. It is suggested that CoA serves a regulatory function in the early portion of the clostridal type of phosphoroclastic reaction.