Evidence for H2 and formate formation during syntrophic butyrate and propionate degradation

Both H2 and formate were formed during butyrate oxidation by Syntrophospora bryantii with pentenoate as electron acceptor and during propionate oxidation by a mesophilic propionate oxidizing bacterium (MPOB) with fumarate as electron acceptor. H2 and formate levels were affected by the bicarbonate concentration. S bryantii and MPOB were also able to interconvert formate and H2+ HCO3-; the apparent K(M) values for formate were of 2.9 mM and 1.8 mM, respectively. The conversion of H2+ HCO3- to formate was detected only when the H2 partial pressure was above 80 kPa. This interconversion seems to be rather unimportant under conditions prevailing during syntrophic propionate and butyrate oxidation.