In vivo 13C NMR study of glucose and cellobiose metabolism by four cellulolytic strains of the genus Fibrobacter

The metabolism of glucose and cellobiose, products of cellulose hydrolysis, was investigated in four cellulolytic strains of the genus Fibrobacter: Fibrobacter succinogenes S85, 095, HM2 and Fibrobacter intestinalis NR9. In vivo C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance was used to quantify the relative contribution of,glucose and cellobiose to metabolite production, glycogen storage and cellodextrins synthesis in these four strains. The same features were found in all four strains of the genus Fibrobacter metabolizing simultaneously glucose and cellobiose: i) differential metabolism of glucose and cellobiose; glucose seems preferentially used for glycogen storage and energy production, while part of cellobiose seems to be diverted from glycolysis, ii) synthesis of cellodextrins, mainly from cellobiose not entering into glycolysis, iii) accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate, iv) simultaneous presence of cellobiose phosphorylase and cellobiase activities. Although genetically diverse, the Fibrobacter genus appears to possess a marked homogeneity in its carbon metabolism.