title: Reductive carboxylation of propionate to butyrate in methanogenic ecosystems.
abstract: During the batch degradation of sodium propionate by the anaerobic sludge from an industrial digestor, we observed a significant amount of butyrate formation. Varying the initial propionate concentrations did not alter the ratio of maximal butyrate accumulation to initial propionate concentration within a large range. By measuring the decrease in the radioactivity of [1-C]butyrate during propionate degradation, we estimated that about 20% of the propionate was converted to butyrate. Labeled butyrate was formed from [1-C]propionate with the same specific radioactivity, suggesting a possible direct pathway from propionate to butyrate. We confirmed this hypothesis by nuclear magnetic resonance studies with [C]propionate. The results showed that [1-C]-, [2-C]-, and [3-C]propionate were converted to [2-C]-, [3-C]-, and [4-C]butyrate, respectively, demonstrating the direct carboxylation on the carboxyl group of propionate without randomization of the other two carbons. In addition, we observed an exchange reaction between C-2 and C-3 of the propionate, indicating that acetogensis may proceed through a randomizing pathway. The physiological significance and importance of various metabolic pathways involved in propionate degradation are discussed, and an unusual pathway of butyrate synthesis is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Station de Technologie Alimentaire, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 59 rue Jules Guesde, B. P. 39, 59651 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, Centre de Biophysique Moleculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orleans Cedex 2, and Station D'Oenologie et de Technologie Vegetale, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 11104 Narbonne Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tholozan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samain
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Grivet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moletta
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Dubourguier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albagnac