CARBON METABOLISM 243 



CH2OH CH2OH 



I I 



CO HOCH 



I I 



HOCH from sorbitol HOCH 



HCOH HCOH 



I I 



HOCH HOCH 



I I 



CH2OH CH2OH 



and dihydroxyacetone from glycerol, 



CH2OH CH2OH 



I I 



CHOH > C = 



I I 



CH2OH CH2OH, 



for example, can, under conditions of vigorous aeration, 

 carry the oxidation to completion, forming carbon dioxide 

 and water, probably by a chain of such reactions. A. 



xylinum only oxidises the "^CHOH group when the 

 hydroxyl group is adjacent to a primary alcohol group 

 and to a second hydroxyl group, that is, alcohols with 



i 



HCOH 



the cis-configuration, | , are oxidised but not 



* HCOH 



' I 



HCOH 



those with the ^rari5-configuration, | 



HOCH 



I 



The potential aldehyde group of sugars is oxidised to 

 a carboxyl group. 



Both A. xylinmn and a similar organism called Bad. 

 ghiconicuiib in addition to gluconic acid and 5-ketogluconic 

 acid oxidise glucose to 0-aldeliydo-gluconic acid whicli is 

 identical with /-guluronic acid : — 



