The metabolic pathways of Acholeplasma and Mycoplasma: an overview

Yale J Biol Med. 1983 Sep-Dec;56(5-6):709-16.

Abstract

The metabolism of the Mollicutes Acholeplasma and Mycoplasma may be characterized as restricted, for example, by virtue of the apparent absence of cytochrome pigments. Some Mollicutes have lowered ECA values during their logarithmic growth phase, which we speculate may be related to insufficient substrate phosphorylation or insufficient ATP synthesis linked to glycolysis. We found that PEP is carboxylated by preparations of A. laidlawii, but not by other Mollicutes; thus in this organism oxaloacetate from PEP may be a link to other pathways. We found phosphoribosylpyrophosphate in A. laidlawii, which suggests that ribosylation of purines and pyrimidines occurs in Mollicutes other than M. mycoides.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acholeplasma / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / biosynthesis
  • Citric Acid Cycle
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate
  • Glucosephosphates / metabolism
  • Glycolysis
  • Mycoplasma / metabolism*
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate / metabolism
  • Phosphoribosyl Pyrophosphate / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Purines / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / metabolism

Substances

  • Glucosephosphates
  • Purines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate
  • Phosphoribosyl Pyrophosphate
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Glucose