title: Pyruvate fermentation by Oenococcus oeni and Leuconostoc mesenteroides and role of pyruvate dehydrogenase in anaerobic fermentation.
abstract: The heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria Oenococcus oeni and Leuconostoc mesenteroides are able to grow by fermentation of pyruvate as the carbon source (2 pyruvate --> 1 lactate + 1 acetate + 1 CO(2)). The growth yields amount to 4.0 and 5.3 g (dry weight)/mol of pyruvate, respectively, suggesting formation of 0.5 mol ATP/mol pyruvate. Pyruvate is oxidatively decarboxylated by pyruvate dehydrogenase to acetyl coenzyme A, which is then converted to acetate, yielding 1 mol of ATP. For NADH reoxidation, one further pyruvate molecule is reduced to lactate. The enzymes of the pathway were present after growth on pyruvate, and genome analysis showed the presence of the corresponding structural genes. The bacteria contain, in addition, pyruvate oxidase activity which is induced under microoxic conditions. Other homo- or heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria showed only low pyruvate fermentation activity.
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Weinforschung, Becherweg 15, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Quang Hon
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Hanno
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Selzer
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unden
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D003470:Culture Media; D005285:Fermentation; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex; D019289:Pyruvic Acid