Physiology of sporeforming bacteria associated with insects: radiorespirometric survey of carbohydrate metabolism in the 12 serotypes of Bacillus thuringiensis

Radiorespirometry was used to compare the primary pathways of glucose catabolism in 18 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis representing the 12 established serotypes. Every strain utilizes the Embden Meyerhof Parnas pathway almost exclusively; pentose phosphate pathway participation is minor. The Embden Meyerhof Parnas pathway predominates regardless of whether the cells were grown in a minimal medium or one containing yeast extract. The results indicate that the absolute requirement for citrate and related compounds is not a result of defective citrate or glucose transport and metabolism.