Skip to main content
PMC home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1986 Apr;51(4):825–831. doi: 10.1128/aem.51.4.825-831.1986

Transport and Metabolism of Lactose, Glucose, and Galactose in Homofermentative Lactobacilli

Malcolm W Hickey 1,†, Alan J Hillier 1,*, G Richard Jago 1
PMCID: PMC238968  PMID: 16347041

Abstract

A number of species of lactobacilli were examined for their ability to ferment both the glucose and galactose moieties of lactose. Lactobacillus helveticus strains metabolized both the glucose and galactose moieties, whereas L. bulgaricus, L. lactis, and L. acidophilus strains metabolized only the glucose moiety and released galactose into the growth medium. All four species tested contained β-galactosidase activity, and no significant phospho-β-galactosidase activity was observed. L. bulgaricus and L. helveticus had a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):glucose phosphotransferase system for the uptake of glucose, but no evidence for a PEP:lactose phosphotransferase or PEP:galactose phosphotransferase system was obtained.

Full text

PDF
825

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. CITTI J. E., SANDINE W. E., ELLIKER P. R. BETA-GALACTOSIDASE OF STREPTOCOCCUS LACTIS. J Bacteriol. 1965 Apr;89:937–942. doi: 10.1128/jb.89.4.937-942.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chassy B. M., Thompson J. Regulation and characterization of the galactose-phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system in Lactobacillus casei. J Bacteriol. 1983 Jun;154(3):1204–1214. doi: 10.1128/jb.154.3.1204-1214.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chassy B. M., Thompson J. Regulation of lactose-phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system and beta-D-phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase activities in Lactobacillus casei. J Bacteriol. 1983 Jun;154(3):1195–1203. doi: 10.1128/jb.154.3.1195-1203.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Farrow J. A. Lactose hydrolysing enzymes in Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris and also in some other species of streptococci. J Appl Bacteriol. 1980 Dec;49(3):493–503. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1980.tb04724.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hemme D. H., Schmal V., Auclair J. E. Effect of the addition of extracts of thermophilic lactobacilli on acid production by Streptococcus thermophilus in milk. J Dairy Res. 1981 Feb;48(1):139–148. doi: 10.1017/s0022029900021555. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hickey M. W., Hillier A. J., Jago G. R. Metabolism of pyruvate and citrate in lactobacilli. Aust J Biol Sci. 1983;36(5-6):487–496. doi: 10.1071/bi9830487. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Lee L. J., Hansen J. B., Jagusztyn-Krynicka E. K., Chassy B. M. Cloning and expression of the beta-D-phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase gene of Lactobacillus casei in Escherichia coli K-12. J Bacteriol. 1982 Dec;152(3):1138–1146. doi: 10.1128/jb.152.3.1138-1146.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. McKay L. L., Walter L. A., Sandine W. E., Elliker P. R. Involvement of phosphoenolpyruvate in lactose utilization by group N streptococci. J Bacteriol. 1969 Aug;99(2):603–610. doi: 10.1128/jb.99.2.603-610.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Miozzari G. F., Niederberger P., Hütter R. Permeabilization of microorganisms by Triton X-100. Anal Biochem. 1978 Oct 1;90(1):220–233. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(78)90026-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Premi L., Sandine W. E., Elliker P. R. Lactose-hydrolyzing enzymes of Lactobacillus species. Appl Microbiol. 1972 Jul;24(1):51–57. doi: 10.1128/am.24.1.51-57.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Richey D. P., Lin E. C. Importance of facilitated diffusion for effective utilization of glycerol by Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1972 Nov;112(2):784–790. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.2.784-790.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Romano A. H., Trifone J. D., Brustolon M. Distribution of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glucose phosphotransferase system in fermentative bacteria. J Bacteriol. 1979 Jul;139(1):93–97. doi: 10.1128/jb.139.1.93-97.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Saier M. H., Jr Bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase systems: structural, functional, and evolutionary interrelationships. Bacteriol Rev. 1977 Dec;41(4):856–871. doi: 10.1128/br.41.4.856-871.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Terzaghi B. E., Sandine W. E. Improved medium for lactic streptococci and their bacteriophages. Appl Microbiol. 1975 Jun;29(6):807–813. doi: 10.1128/am.29.6.807-813.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Thomas T. D., Turner K. W., Crow V. L. Galactose fermentation by Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris: pathways, products, and regulation. J Bacteriol. 1980 Nov;144(2):672–682. doi: 10.1128/jb.144.2.672-682.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Thompson J., Chassy B. M. Novel phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent futile cycle in Streptococcus lactis: 2-deoxy-D-glucose uncouples energy production from growth. J Bacteriol. 1982 Sep;151(3):1454–1465. doi: 10.1128/jb.151.3.1454-1465.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Thompson J. Galactose transport systems in Streptococcus lactis. J Bacteriol. 1980 Nov;144(2):683–691. doi: 10.1128/jb.144.2.683-691.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Thompson J. In vivo regulation of glycolysis and characterization of sugar: phosphotransferase systems in Streptococcus lactis. J Bacteriol. 1978 Nov;136(2):465–476. doi: 10.1128/jb.136.2.465-476.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Thompson J. Lactose metabolism in Streptococcus lactis: phosphorylation of galactose and glucose moieties in vivo. J Bacteriol. 1979 Dec;140(3):774–785. doi: 10.1128/jb.140.3.774-785.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Thompson J., Thomas T. D. Phosphoenolpyruvate and 2-phosphoglycerate: endogenous energy source(s) for sugar accumulation by starved cells of Streptococcus lactis. J Bacteriol. 1977 May;130(2):583–595. doi: 10.1128/jb.130.2.583-595.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Thompson J., Turner K. W., Thomas T. D. Catabolite inhibition and sequential metabolism of sugars by Streptococcus lactis. J Bacteriol. 1978 Mar;133(3):1163–1174. doi: 10.1128/jb.133.3.1163-1174.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Turner K. W., Martley F. G. Galactose fermentation and classification of thermophilic lactobacilli. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Jun;45(6):1932–1934. doi: 10.1128/aem.45.6.1932-1934.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES