PRODUCTION OF PYRUVIC-ACID FROM 1,2-PROPANEDIOL BY PSEUDOMONAS SP STRAIN TB-135 WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE THIAMINE

Pseudomonas sp. strain TB-135 produces D-lactic acid from 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) and requires Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe2+ for growth but does not require thiamine. The strain produced pyruvic acid only under Fe2+-deficient conditions and the addition of Cu2+ increased pyruvic acid production. Under optimal conditions (0.03 ppm of FeSO4 and 0.5ppm of CuSO4), the strain accumulated 14 mg pyruvic acid par ml after 3 days of cultivation. The thiamine concentration in the cells grown on Fe2+-deficient medium was about 6% of that in the cells grown on Fe2+-sufficient medium, though pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1) activities of both types of cells were the same. We conclude that the low thiamine content of the cells is responsible for the acid production.