Anaerobic 1,3-propanediol dissimilation by Desulfovibrio alcoholivorans and other Desulfovibrio species

The specific growth rate of Desulfovibrio alcoholivorans, D. carbinolicus and D. fructosivorans on 1,3-propanediol in the presence of sulfate was affected by the soluble sulfides produced from sulfate reduction and the pH, which however did not change the products of oxidation, attesting presumably of diversity in the metabolism of these species. A comparative biochemical study with cell-free extracts of the three species showed that NAD-dependent 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase played a key role in the catabolism of 1,3-propanediol. In contrast to D. alcoholivorans, no 3-hydroxypropionate dehydrogenase activity was detected in cell-free extracts of D. carbinolicus or D. fructosivorans, suggesting that 3-hydroxypropionate is an intermediate in the degradation of 1,3-propanediol into acetate only in D. alcoholivorans.