[Production of glycolic acid by the cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa]

The maximum production of glycolic acid by the cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, strain S-39, was found when the cells, grown at the content of carbon dioxide of 2% in the air and illumination of 2000 lx, were transferred to 10(-3) M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) with barbotage by pure oxygen and illumination of 30,000 lx. The rate of production of glycolic acid during the first five minutes is the same in the light and darkness; later no glycolate is formed in the darkness while in the light glycolate is formed at a lower rate. Bicarbonate inhibits production of glycolate. Negative interaction has been established between oxygen and bicarbonate during their effect on the production of glycolic acid. These data confirm the production of glycolic acid in the cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa from ribulose diphosphate which is oxidized by molecular oxygen with the participation of ribulose diphosphate carboxylase acting as an oxygenase.