Aerobic metabolism of carbon reserves by the "obligate anaerobe" Desulfovibrio gigas.

The sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio gigas, is shown by in vivo 31P-NMR to be capable of generating NTP from the utilization of internal carbon reserves both in anaerobic and in aerobic conditions. Acetate, glycerol and ethanol are the major end-products, but the production of alcohols decreases strongly when oxygen is present. When the glycolytic pathway is inhibited with fluoride, NTP levels decrease drastically but can be remarkably restored when an electron acceptor, such as oxygen, is provided. Our data are in favour of a NADH-linked electron transfer chain enabling transfer of reducing power derived from polyglucose to oxygen which provides this so-called "strict anaerobe" with the capability of surviving to oxic environments.