ATP Production from Adenosine or Adenine by a Methanol-utilizing Yeast, Candida boidinii (Kloeckera sp.) No. 2201

Abstract

Adenine nucleotide formation from adenosine or adenine by sorbitol-treated cells of Candida boidinii (Kloeckera sp.) No. 2201 was investigated. The system consisted of a sequence of oxidation of methanol to reduce NAD ⁺, oxidative phosphorylation of ADP to ATP, and phosphorylation of adenosine or phosphoribosylation of adenine to ADP.

The reaction conditions for ATP production from adenosine or adenine were optimized as to initial concentrations of substrates and coenzymes, pH of potassium phosphate buffer, temperature, osmotic pressure and other additives. Efficient ATP production from adenosine was achieved by the addition of pyrophosphate together with Mg^{2 +} . Under the optimal Conditions, 24 mm (12.2g/liter) of ATP was produced from 40 mm of adenosine. ATP production from adenine was not so high under the conditions tested. The efficiency of this energy conversion system was also discussed.