Microbial metabolism of C 1 and C 2 compounds. The involvement of glycollate in the metabolism of ethanol and of acetate by Pseudomonas AM1.

Pseudomonas AM1 grows on ethanol with a mean generation time of about 10h. A single alcohol dehydrogenase is responsible for oxidation of both methanol and ethanol. It is proposed that the glyoxylate bypass does not operate in Pseudomonas AM1 during growth on ethanol. Although malate synthase is present in extracts of ethanol-grown Pseudomonas AM1, the activity of isocitrate lyase is negligible. Short-term incubation experiments with [(14)C]ethanol and [(14)C]acetate indicate that a novel pathway operates during growth of Pseudomonas AM1 on ethanol. Glycollate, glyoxylate and malate are probably intermediates in this pathway.