Pathways of propionate degradation by enriched methanogenic cultures

M. Koch, J. Dolfing, K. Wuhrmann, A. J.B. Zehnder

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78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A mixed methanogenic culture was highly enriched in a growth medium containing propionate as the sole organic carbon and energy source. With this culture, the pathways of propionate degradation were studied by use of 14C-radiotracers. Propionate was first metabolized to acetate, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen by nonmethanogenic organisms. Formate was not excreted. The carbon dioxide originated exclusively from the carboxyl group of propionate, whereas both [2-14C]- and [3-14C]propionate lead to the production of radioactive acetate. The methyl and carboxyl groups of the acetate produced were equally labeled, regardless of whether [2-14C]- or [3-14C]propionate was used. These observations suggest that in the culture, propionate was degraded through a randomizing pathway.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1411-1414
Number of pages4
JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume45
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 1983
Externally publishedYes

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