Nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway in Veillonella alcalescens

Crude cell-free extracts of Veillonella alcalescens C1, an anaerobe unable to ferment glucose, were assayed for individual enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities were not detectable. Constituent enzymes of the nonoxidative limb of the pentose phosphate pathway were demonstrable. The presence of transaldolase, transketolase, phosphoribose isomerase, and phosphoribulose epimerase in this organism suggests a primarily biosynthetic role for these enzymes. It is postulated that ribose is synthesized from lactate in V. alcalescens C1 via a modified reversal of glycolysis and the nonoxidative limb of the pentose phosphate pathway.