Energetics of end product excretion in anaerobic bacteria and the metabolism of fatty acids by Syntrophomonas wolfei. Progress report, December 16, 1985--November 15, 1986.

摘要

The study of anaerobic hydrogen-producing syntrophic bacteria is important for several reasons. These bacteria degrade fatty acids which are important intermediates in anaerobic degradation and methanogenesis. The rate and extent of anaerobic degradation of complex polymeric materials often depends on the activity of these organisms. The production of H(sub 2) during anaerobic fatty acid degradation is energetically favorable only when H(sub 2) is maintained at a low level by another bacterium such as a H(sub 2)- using methanogen. Thus, the fatty acid-degrading syntrophic associations serve as excellent models to study the biochemical aspects of mutualism. The fatty acid-degrading syntrophic bacteria are very slow growers since little free energy is released during fatty acid degradation. These bacteria must have very efficient energy conservation systems which are not understood at this time. Further study of these organisms will provide useful information on bioenergetics of living systems. We have chosen to study the metabolism and energetics of the anaerobic, syntrophic, fatty acid degrader, Syntrophomonas wolfei. This organism is the best characterized syntrophic bacterium and serves as an appropriate model organism.