Anaerobic 2-ketogluconate metabolism of Klebsiella pnuemoniae NCTC 418 grownin chemostat culture: involvement of the pentose phosphate pathway

Klebsiella pneumoniae NCTC 418 can convert 2-ketogluconate to biomass, acetate, formate, carbon dioxide, ethanol and succinate under anaerobic conditions. The results indicatedthat K. pneumoniae utilizes both the Entner-Doudoroff and pentose phosphate pathway in the anaerobic catabolism of 2-ketogluconate. It was also observed that sudden relief of 2-ketogluconate-limited conditions led to an increase in catabolism rate and a decrease in the anabolism rate of 2-ketogluconate. This was accompanied by increased lactate production, probably, as a form of energy dissipation.