368 BACTERIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 



ot" syiitliosis. An alteriiativo sou r(^e of ghicoso-Ophosphatc 

 may be from phosphopyruvic acid by reversal of the 

 reaction of alcoholic fermentation according to the 

 Embden-Meyerhof scheme. Pyruvic acid is also formed 

 in the fermentation of lactic acid and in most, if not all, 

 bacterial fermentations . It will be remembered, however, 

 that glucose- 1 -phosphate is not an intermediate in the 

 conversion of sucrose to dextran by enzymes of 

 Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and that potato phosphorylase 

 is not effective in that synthesis (see p. 346). 



The synthesis of carbohydrates and polysaccharides 

 may also occur by way of the condensation of aldehydes 

 with the intervention of adenosine phosphates as was 

 suggested by Ruben for the autotrophic bacteria (see 

 p. 78). 



In the early stages of dissimilation of glucose by 

 yeasts and by Esch. coli potassium and glucose disappear 

 from the medium and a fermentable non-reducing poly- 

 saccharide is formed in equimolecular proportions. The 

 disappearance of glucose is more rapid than is accounted 

 for by the products of fermentation formed. It appears 

 that the potassium is concerned in the synthesis, but the 

 mechanism is unknown. 



For further reading : — 



R. E. Buchanan and E. I. Fulmer, " Physiology and Biochemistry of 

 Bacteria," Vol. I, Chapter III. BalJiere, Tindall & Cox. Londor, 

 1928. 



E. Mikulaszek, " Bakterielle Polysaccharide." Ergebnisse der Hygien e 



17 (1935), 415. 

 R. W. Linton, " Chemistry and Serology of the Vibrios." Bad. Rev., 4 



(1940), 261. 



