[Comparative evaluation of the use of glucose and fructose by the oxidative pathway in a strain of Rhizobium meliloti].

The oxidation rate in resting cells of Rhizobium meliloti was investigated with either glucose or fructose as substrate. Fructose uptake was found to be complete, whereas glucose uptake did not fully occur, yielding 2-kitogluconic acid in the medium. At the end of fructose oxidation, significant levels of this substrate and its derivatives had accumulated in the bacteria.