Microbiology and physiology of anaerobic fermentations of cellulose. Progress report, September 1982-March 1983

Research progress for the period September 1982-March 1983 is reported. The cellulose enzyme system of the anaerobic thermophile Clostridium thermocellum is being studied. Mutants have been obtained from thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus which produce higher amounts of ethanol than does the wild type. Clostridium thermoautotrophicum has been studied with respect to the pathway of acetate synthesis from CO/sub 2/. Progress has been achieved on properties of the NADP-dependent formate dehydrogenase and the CO dehydrogenase of Clostridium thermoaceticum. The CO dehydrogenase of Acetobacterium woodii has been isolated. Research has continued on the bioenergetics of dissimilatory sulfate reduction in sulfate reducing and methanogenic bacteria.