Vitamin B₁ and Acetate Oxidation by Bacteria

Abstract

IT is now known¹ that vitamin B₁ may be a necessary factor for the growth of bacteria. Bacteria can, however, be grown with minimal amounts of vitamin B₁ and such bacteria (for example, Staphylococcus aureus) may show enhanced metabolic activities so far as the breakdown of pyruvic acid is concerned, when the vitamin is added to suspensions of the washed cells². If the bacteria are grown on a medium containing adequate quantities of vitamin B₁ the subsequent addition of the vitamin to the washed cells does not affect their metabolic changes. It is evident that a study of the action of vitamin B₁ on the chemical changes brought about by vitamin B₁-deficient bacteria may throw new light on the mechanism of action of this vitamin.