Metabolism of glucose via a modified Entner‐Doudoroff pathway in the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilum

It has been found that the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium, Thermoplasma acidophilum , can metabolise glucose via a modified Entner‐Doudoroff pathway involving non‐phosphorylated intermediates. Pyruvate and glyceraldehyde are the first products, the glyceraldehyde then being further metabolised to a second molecule of pyruvate via 2‐phosphoglycerate. Intermediates of this pathway have been identified by enzymic analysis or by thin‐layer chromatography and the individual enzymes involved have been assayed and their kinetic parameters determined. Comparisons are made with the pathways of glucose metabolism in other archaebacteria. p] Archaebacteria (Thermoplasma) Entner‐Doudoroff pathway Glucose metabolism