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SUMMARY: Carbohydrate fermentation by the flagellate protozoan Trichomonas foetus results in the production of large amounts of hydrogen by an unknown mechanism. Impermeability of T. foetus to pyruvate at neutral pH may explain earlier failures of other workers to demonstrate unequivocally the intermediate participation of pyruvate in this fermentation. Intact cells of T. foetus have now been shown to ferment pyruvate at pH 4·0. In addition pyruvate is metabolized rapidly at pH 6·0 by cell-free extracts although not by intact cells. Extracts of T. foetus have been found to convert pyruvate to equimolar amounts of acetate, H2 and CO2. Formate was not metabolized by either intact cells or extracts, although an active hydrogenase was present. It is concluded that this protozoan possesses a mechanism of hydrogen formation similar to that found in the saccharolytic clostridial bacteria.
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