RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 De Bruyn, Ingrid N. A1 Holzapfel, Wilhelm H. A1 Visser, Leon A1 Louw, Abraham IYR 1988 T1 Glucose Metabolism by Lactobacillus divergens JF Microbiology, VO 134 IS 8 SP 2103 OP 2109 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-134-8-2103 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB Earlier studies on the fermentation of D-[1-14C]- and d-[3,4-14C]glucose by Lactobacillus divergens showed that lactate was the major fermentation product and that it was probably produced by glycolysis. It was therefore recommended that L. divergens be reclassified as a homofermentative organism. In the present investigation, products of d-[1-14C]-, d-[2-14C]- and d-[3,4-14C]glucose fermented by L. divergens were isolated, and their specific radioactivities and the distribution patterns of radioactivity in their C-atoms were determined. The positional labelling patterns of the fermentation products, their specific radioactivities and their concentrations confirmed that glucose is degraded via the glycolytic pathway. Some secondary decarboxylation/dissimilation of pyruvate to acetate, formate and CO2 was also observed. These results provide conclusive proof that L. divergens is indeed a homofermentative organism. Results obtained with d-[U-14C]glucose showed that approximately three-quarters of the lactate but less than 10 % each of the formate and acetate were produced from glucose. The remainder was presumably derived to a varying degree from endogenous non-glucose sources such as fructose and/or amino acids., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-134-8-2103