Formation of sorbitol by Zymomonas mobilis

Sorbitol production using recombinant Zymomonas mobilis strain

“…Thus, the GFOR enzyme to be used for bioconversion of fructose and glucose to sorbitol and gluconic acid was all from Z. mobilis cells, either in the form of whole cell or free enzyme separated. When Z. mobilis whole cells are used as catalyst for the production of sorbitol and gluconic acid, the ethanol yield is up to 11% (w/w) from glucose or fructose substrates (Viikari, 1984). To improve the sorbitol yield based on substrate consumed, various cell permeabilization methods were evaluated by releasing the soluble cofactors necessary for the activation of enzymes on the Entner-Doudoroff pathway.…”

Production of sorbitol and gluconic acid by permeabilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis

“…It has been shown that, besides the production of ethanol, sorbitol production accounted only for 11% of the original carbon source when Z. mobilis was grown on mixtures of glucose and fructose (Viikari 1984b). No significant gluconate production was observed, since in contrast to sorbitol the gluconic acid produced was phosphorylated by the gluconatekinase and further metabolized in the Entner-Doudoroff pathway to ethanol (Barrow et al 1984;Zachariou and Scopes 1985;Strohdeicher et al 1988).…”

Sorbitol promotes growth of Zymomonas mobilis in environments with high concentrations of sugar: evidence for a physiological function of glucose-fructose oxidoreductase in osmoprotection

“…Thus, up to 11% of the carbon source(s) was converted into sorbitol and afterwards detected in the media, the sorbitol yield being proportional to the increased sugar concentrations (2,6,11,(30)(31)(32). It was suggested (2, 31) that sorbitol formation resulted from an inhibition of fructokinase by glucose.…”