Evaluation of the Energy Gained by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa During the Oxidation of Glucose to 2-Ketogluconate

Cell extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were shown to oxidize glucose with the accumulation of 2-ketogluconate. The theoretical amount of oxygen was taken up during the reaction and no added hydrogen acceptors were necessary. With glucose as substrate these extracts did not form high energy phosphate nor did they reduce diphosphopyridine nucleotide or triphosphopyridine nucleotide. Almost identical amounts of growth were obtained when limiting equimolar amounts of glucose, gluconate, or 2-ketogluconate were compared as sole sources of carbon. It was concluded that P. aeruginosa 9027 does not gain energy during the oxidative steps glucose –→ gluconate –→ 2-ketogluconate.