Peptide and amino acid transport in Streptococcus lactis was both energyand temperature-dependent. Separate systems were present for the transport of amino acids, dipeptides and oligopeptides as well as for individual amino acids. Both tri-and tetra-peptides were readily transported while an apparent size restriction at the point of uptake resulted in a relatively low rate of uptake of the pentapeptide. The effects of pH, temperature and salt concentration on the uptake of amino acids and peptides were studied. Exchange reactions played a significant role in the uptake of both peptides and amino acids.

The formation of hydrogen peroxide by group N streptococci was found to occur through the action of a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase which catalyzed the oxidation of NADH by molecular oxygen. The enzyme was activated by flavine adenine dinucleotide. Whereas some of the hydrogen peroxide formed was removed through the action of an NADH peroxidase, sufficient accumulated in media to inhibit the growth, respiration, and viability of these organisms. The amount of hydrogen peroxide which accumulated varied among strains, and this variation could be related to differences in the properties of the NADH oxidase present.

Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. delbrueckii, L. lactis and L. plantarum contained a pyruvate oxidase for the oxidation of pyruvate to acetyl phosphate and acetate. The presence of an acetate kinase converted the acetyl phosphate to acetate. L. casei and L. plantarum produced lactate and acetoin, in addition to acetate, under the conditions used while L. casei also produced diacetyL L. casei and L. plantarum were the only species to utilize citrate. L. helveticus and L. helveticus subsp. jugurti did not utilize pyruvate under the conditions used.

Group N streptococci were found to cleave threonine to form acetaldehyde and glycine. Threonine aldolase, the enzyme catalysing this reaction, was found in all strains except Streptococcus cremoris ZS, an organism which had been shown previously to have a nutritional requirement for glycine. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by glycine and cysteine. The inhibition showed characteristics of allosteric inhibition and was pH-dependent. Inhibition by glycine, but not by cysteine, was highly specific. Analogues and derivatives of cysteine which contained a thiol group and a free amino group inhibited the activity of threonine aldolase. The presence of a carboxyl group was not necessary for inhibition. The cleavage of threonine by wholecell suspensions was stimulated by either an energy source to aid transport, or by rendering the cells permeable to substrate with oleate. Threonine did not appear to be degraded by enzymes other than threonine aldolase, as threonine dehydratase activity was low and NAD-and NADP-dependent threonine dehydrogenases were absent.