The effect of oxygen and sulfhydryl reagents on the hydrolysis and the fermentation of chitin byClostridium 9.1

Inhibition experiments employing sulfhydryl binding and sulfhydryl oxidizing reagents showed the presence of essential thiol groups in the chitinolytic system of Clostridium 9.1. Inhibition of fermentation by membrane-impermeable reagents was relieved upon addition of excess reductant, suggesting the involvement of essential thiol groups in sugar transport activity. The chitinolytic system and the fermentation of the bacterium appeared relatively insensitive to oxygen.