SUMMARY: The keto acid production of Corynebacterium diphtherias (strain CN2000) growing in submerged culture in complex medium was investigated. Pyruvic acid production followed a pattern in which there was a very rapid production of acid which reached a peak about 12 hr. after inoculation. The acid concentration decreased rapidly after 12 hr. and the final pyruvic acid concentration appeared to be very variable. The source of the pyruvic acid is believed to be lactic acid, the concentration of which decreased rapidly as pyruvic acid increased. The presence in the medium of sufficient iron to abolish toxin production completely did not affect the pattern of pyruvic acid production. α-Ketoglutaric acid production in the cultures appeared to vary in a random manner. C. diphtheriae strain G12/6 produced a maximum yield of pyruvic acid after only 6 hr. growth but was otherwise similar to strain CN2000. C. diphtherias strain SM1 gave a maximum production of pyruvic acid after 24 hr. but in the presence of 3 μg. Fe/ml. production was more rapid and was like that found for strain CN2000. No correlation was found between toxin production and the production of pyruvic acid or α-keto glutaric acid.
JännesL.1954; Studies on the terminal oxidative reaction patterns of the carbohydrate metabolism of Corynebacterium diphtheriae
. Ann. Acad. Sci.fenn Ser. A, sec.2) 61:1
RamonG.,
PochonJ.,
AmoureuxG.1941; La production à l’aide d’un nouveau milieu de culture à base de digestion papainique des toxines microbiennes et specialement des toxines diphtériques et staphylococciques destinees à la preparation des anatoxines correspondantes. C.R. Soc. Biol., Paris 135:1502
YonedaM.,
IshiharaH.1958; Accumulation of a-alanine and of pyruvate in diphtherial culture filtrate and its relation to iron deficiency of medium. Nature; Lond.: 181272