ANALYSIS OF PANCREATIC PROTEIN MATERIALcluded in this group since cell suspensions of all 3 species can decompose single amino acids anaerobically. However, it is not yet certain that these decomposition reactions can satisfy the energy requirements for growth of these bacteria.Recent work in this laboratory has resulted in the discovery of 2 additional obligately anaerobic bacteria that derive energy by the fermentation of single amino acids. Both organisms undoubtedly represent new species.The first organism is a spindle-shaped, sporef orming , motile, Gr am-nega t ive rod which ferments alanine, serine and threonine as well as lactate and pyruvate. Methionine, valine, cysteine and aspartate are also attacked but much more slowly. Other amino acids and carbohydrates are not fermented. The fermentation products are very similar to those produced by the genus Propionibacterium since all C3 substrates give rise to propionic and acetic acids approximately in accordance with the following equations: 3 CH3CHNH2COOH + 2 H20 + 3 XH:i + 9 CH3CH2COOH + 1 CH3COOH + 1 COZ 3 CH20HCHNH2COOH + 1 H20 + 3 NHs + 1 CH3CH2COOH + 2 CH3COOH + 2 COa 3 CH3CHOHCOOIE + 2 CH3CH2COOH + 1 CH3COOH + 1 C02 + H20 3 CI13COCOOII + 1 H20 + 1 CH3CH2COOH + Threonine, however, gives butyric instead of propionic acid as the characteristic product: 2 CH3COOH + 3 C 0 2 3 CH3CHOHCHNH2COOH + H2O -+ 3 NH3 + 2 CH,CH,CH,COOH + 1 CH3COOH + 2 CO,The second organism is a Gram-negative coccus that ferments glycine readily. Very few other amino acids are attacked and none is decomposed as rapidly as glycine. The organism may therefore prove useful for the identification and estimation of this amino acid. The fermentation of glycine proceeds approximately in accordance with the equation:4 CHzNH2COOH + 2 H20 + 4 NH, + 3 CH3COOH + 2 COzCnder certain conditions, a considerable amount of hydrogen (as much as 0.35 moles per mole of glycine fermented) is also produced, while the carbon dioxide is increased and the acetic acid decreased.Since the above reactions are carried out by growing cultures as well as by cell suspensions *there can be no doubt that they provide the main energy source for these bacteria.During the course of an investigation of the chemistry of beef pancreas, two protein materials were prepared. The experiments described in the following paper1 indicate that one of these (P-1) has unusual growthpromoting properties as tested with white rats.
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