title: Kinetics and distribution of alcohol oxidising activity in Acholeplasma and Mycoplasma species.
abstract: Alcohol metabolism by Acholeplasma and Mycoplasma cell suspensions was determined using changes in dissolved oxygen tension to monitor oxygen uptake. All seven Acholeplasma test species oxidised ethanol and (where tested) propanol, butanol and pentanol. The rate of oxidation, at any particular substrate concentration, decreased with increasing alcohol molecular mass. Amongst 20 Mycoplasma species tested, M. agalactiae, M. bovis, M. dispar, M. gallisepticum, M. pneumoniae and M. ovipneumoniae oxidised ethanol. Propanol was also oxidised by M. dispar and isopropanol by M. agalactiae, M. bovis and M. ovipneumoniae. Isopropanol was oxidised at particularly high rates (V(max)100 nmol O(2) taken up min(-1) mg cell protein(-1)) and with a relatively high affinity (K(m) value<2 mM); oxygen uptake was consistent with oxidation to acetone. The significance of alcohol oxidation is unclear, as it would not be predicted to lead to ATP synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, UK.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Abu-Amero
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abu-Groun
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Halablab
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Miles
mesh_terms: D000127:Acholeplasma / Q000201:enzymology*; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D007700:Kinetics; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D003470:Culture Media; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase