Alcoholic Fermentation of Carbohydrates and Dehydrogenation of Alcohols by Certain Wood-destroying Fungi

Abstract

IN recent years, the biochemistry and enzymology of Fusaria have received considerable attention in this laboratory. These moulds are characterized by their ability to ferment hexoses and pentoses, bypassing the phosphoglyceric acid step. They are able to reduce nitrates via nitrite to hydroxylamine, to utilize potassium cyanide as a carbon and nitrogen source and elementary sulphur as a hydrogen acceptor, to synthesize a variety of pigments which can serve as mediators between oxidation and assimilation, and to convert carbohydrates abundantly into fats¹.