Formation of gentiobiose, sophorose and other oligosaccharides by Acetobacter species growing in glucose media

When Acetobacter aceti, Acetobacter rancens, Acetobacter acidum-mucosum and Acetobacter acetosum var. nairobiense were grown in defined media containing glucose as sole source of carbon, gentiobiose (O-β- d -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)- d -glucopyranose) and sophorose (O-β- d -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- d -glucopyranose) were the principal oligosaccharide products in all cases. These were accompanied by other disaccharides and by higher saccharides. Paper chromatograms showed that each Acetobacter species synthesized the same series of sugars.