Fermentation of Pyruvate, β-Hydroxybutyrate and of C₄-dicarboxylic Acids by some Butyric Acid-forming Organisms

Abstract

ACCORDING to several authors, pyruvate is an intermediate in the formation of C₄-compounds in the butanol-acetone fermentation. According to others, pyruvate is not such an intermediate and gives rise only to acetate when fermented by resting cells of butyl organisms. The different results obtained by the various authors can be explained by the utilization of different strains. Thus, we have observed that washed cells of the strain GR4 of Clostridium saccharobutyricum Schattenfroh and Grassberger, when acting on pyruvate, give rise to acetate and butyrate. The same results are obtained with suspensions of Cl. acetobutylicum (Weizmann) McCoy, Fred, Peterson and Hastings, strain Fd11, whereas strain PC48 and some other strains of the same organism give rise only to acetate when acting on pyruvate. These last strains may need a coupled reaction to ferment pyruvate in the normal C₄-compounds.