[Carbohydrate metabolic characteristics of coryneform bacteria]

The peculiarities of glucose metabolism were studied in typical representatives of coryneform bacteria, and its relation to inorganic polyphosphate metabolism was shown. The activity of the first two enzymes in the pentose pathway was found to be low. The key enzymes of glycolysis were detected, viz. fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase and 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase. The second enzyme was more active in Nocardia sp. B-293 similar in its properties to Nocardia erythropolis as compared to the enzymes of the pentose shunt. The existence of polyphosphate glucokinase more active than ATP-dependent hexokinase is indicative of inorganic polyphosphates being involved in the metabolism of the above microorganisms.