PREFACE 



I am happy to have the opportunity to present this work on 

 pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, which has been carried 

 out, for the most part, in our laboratories (Science Research 

 Institute, Oregon State University) during the last eight 

 years. This w^ork emphasizes heavily the peculiarities of me- 

 tabolism that characterize the acetic acid bacteria, as well as 

 emphasizing observations on microbial systems, which lend 

 themselves especially to radiorespirometric studies. Finally, 

 it presents a general discussion on various aspects of metab- 

 olism, which seems appropriate in this series of lectures. 

 Because of the personal nature of the experiences described, 

 this will not represent an attempt to review exhaustively 

 the literature in the field, although it is hoped that this 

 work may be of some aid in that direction. 



Being selected as a lecturer to continue the series ably 

 begun by the other speakers in the Squibb series produces 

 in one mixed feelings— diffidence, yet at the same time the 

 need for confidence to provide some useful thoughts about 



