The reduction of diacetyl and acetoin in Aerobacter aerogenes. Evidence for one enzyme catalyzing both reactions

Prospects on bio-based 2,3-butanediol and acetoin production: Recent progress and advances

The bio-based platform chemicals 2,3-butanediol (BDO) and acetoin have various applications in chemical, cosmetics, food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries, whereas the derivatives of BDO could be used as fuel additives, polymer and synthetic rubber production. This review summarizes the novel technological developments in adapting genetic and metabolic engineering strategies for selection and construction of chassis strains for BDO and acetoin production. The valorization of renewable feedstocks and bioprocess development for the upstream and downstream stages of bio-based BDO and acetoin production are discussed. The techno-economic aspects evaluating the viability and industrial potential of bio-based BDO production are presented. The commercialization of bio-based BDO and acetoin production requires the utilization of crude renewable resources, the chassis strains with high fermentation production efficiencies and development of sustainable purification or conversion technologies.

2,3-Butanediol production using soy-based nitrogen source and fermentation process evaluation by a novel isolate of Bacillus licheniformis BL1

2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) has varied applications in chemical, pharmaceutical, & food industry. Microorganisms belonging to Klebsiella, Enterobacter & Serratia genera are well-known producers of 2,3-BDO. However, they have limited usage in industrial-scale owing to their pathogenic nature. A nonpathogenic soil isolate identified as Bacillus licheniformis (BL1) was thus investigated for 2,3-BDO production. Soy flakes, soy flour, defatted soy, and soybean meal-based hydrolysates replaced yeast extract and peptone as nitrogen sources. Defatted soy flakes and soybean meal hydrolysate led to an equivalent 2,3-BDO yield and productivity as compared to that of Yeast Extract and peptone. The pH and oxygen variation influenced the proportion of various products of the mixed acid-butanediol pathway. Further, the batch mode fermentation with soy hydrolysate and optimized process parameter resulted in 2,3-BDO titer, yield and productivity of 11.06 g/L, 0.43 g/g and 0.48 g/L h respectively. Glucose concentration above 5% was inhibitory and led to reduction in the specific growth rate of BL1 in batch cultivation. Intermittent glucose feeding in fed-batch mode overcame this substrate limitation resulting in increased titers (49.8 g/L) and productivity (0.62 g/L h). Modified medium containing soy hydrolysate as nitrogen source with fermentation process optimization resulted in 67% decrease in medium cost for 2,3-BDO production.

Effects of amino acids on the fermentation of inulin or glucose to produce R,R-2,3-butanediol using Paenibacillus polymyxa ZJ-9

This study investigated the effects of different amino acids on the fermentation of pure inulin and glucose using Paenibacillus polymyxa ZJ-9 in order to improve the production of R,R-2,3-butanediol (R,R-2,3-BD) respectively. The inulin extract from Jerusalem artichoke tubers contained 19 common amino acids, which were detected by HPLC. Arg featured the highest content (1290 mg l^-1 ). A single add-back experiment of 20 common amino acids indicated that Asn, Ser, His and Arg are key amino acids in R,R-2,3-BD synthesis during inulin fermentation using P. polymyxa ZJ-9. The corresponding yields of R,R-2,3-BD reached 24·32, 22·32, 22·03 and 21·04 g l^-1 after the four key amino acids (1·5 g l^-1 each) and glucose were evaluated in this fermentation. The yields were considerably higher than that of the control group (12·11 g l^-1 ). With the addition of the mixture of four amino acids (1·5 g l^-1 each), the highest yields of R,R-2,3-BD (25·07 and 17·47 g l^-1 ) were obtained with the increase of 107·0 and 89·1% during the fermentation of glucose and pure inulin respectively. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Paenibacillus polymyxa is a micro-organism with a reported potential for industrialized production of R,R-2,3-butanediol. The nitrogen sources have a significant effect on R,R-2,3-butanediol formation using P. polymyxa. This study demonstrated a highly efficient new method to improve the yield of R,R-2,3-butanediol without adding other nitrogen sources except amino acids during the fermentation. This will therefore decrease the production cost of R,R-2,3-butanediol and provide a new strategy for promoting synthesis of amino acid-dependent products.

Identification of acetoin reductases involved in 2,3-butanediol pathway in Klebsiella oxytoca

The acetoin reductase (AR) of Klebsiella oxytoca is responsible for converting acetoin into 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) during sugar fermentation. Deleting the AR encoding gene (budC) in the 2,3-BDO operon does not block production of 2,3-BDO, as another similar gene exists in addition to budC called diacetyl/acetoin reductase (dar) which shares 53% identity with budC. In the present study, both budC and dar of K. oxytoca were independently cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli along with budA (acetolactate decarboxylase) and budB (acetolactate synthase), which are responsible for converting pyruvate into acetoin. The recombinant E. coli expressing budABC and budAB-dar produced 2,3-BDO from glucose but E. coli expressing only budAB did not and produced acetoin alone. This demonstrates that Dar functions similar to BudC. Mutants of budC, dar, and both genes together were developed in K. oxytoca ΔldhA (lactate dehydrogenase). K. oxytoca ΔldhA ΔbudC Δdar, deficient in both AR genes, showed reduced 2,3-BDO concentration when compared to K. oxytoca ΔldhA and K. oxytoca ΔldhA ΔbudC by 84% and 69%, respectively. Interestingly, K. oxytoca ΔldhA Δdar resulted in a significant reduction in the reversible conversion of 2,3-BDO into acetoin than that of K. oxytoca ΔldhA, which was observed in a glucose depleted fermentation culture. In addition, we observed that Dar played a key role in dissimilation of 2,3-BDO in media containing 2,3-BDO alone.

Properties of 2,3-Butanediol Dehydrogenases from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis in Relation to Citrate Fermentation

Two 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenases (enzymes 1 and 2; molecular weight of each, 170,000) have been partially purified from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (Streptococcus diacetylactis) D10 and shown to have reductase activity with either diacetyl or acetoin as the substrate. However, the reductase activity with 10 mM diacetyl was far greater for both enzymes (7.0- and 4.7-fold for enzymes 1 and 2, respectively) than with 10 mM acetoin as the substrate. In contrast, when acetoin and diacetyl were present together, acetoin was the preferred substrate for both enzymes, with enzyme 1 showing the more marked preference for acetoin. meso-2,3-Butanediol was the only isomeric product, with enzyme 1 independent of the substrate combinations. For enzyme 2, both the meso and optical isomers of 2,3-butanediol were formed with acetoin as the substrate, but only the optical isomers were produced with diacetyl as the substrate. With batch cultures of strain D10 at or near the point of citrate exhaustion, the main isomers of 2,3-butanediol present were the optical forms. If the pH was sufficiently high (>pH 5), acetoin reduction occurred over time and was followed by diacetyl reduction, and meso-2,3-butanediol became the predominant isomer. Interconversion of the optical isomers into the meso isomer did occur. The properties of 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenases are consistent with diacetyl and acetoin removal and the appearance of the isomers of 2,3-butanediol.

Induction of some enzymes of citrate metabolism inLeuconostoc lactisand other heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria

Citrate stimulated growth, totally induced citrate lyase, partly induced acetolactate synthase activity and partly repressed both diacetyl and acetoin reductases inLeuconostoc lactisNCW1. Similar results were obtained with 2 other leuconostocs and a heterofermentative lactobacillus. In 2 of the 3 leuconostocs tested, diacetyl reductase and acetoin reductase were NADPH specific, while in the 2 heterofermentative lactobacilli, they were NADH specific.

Constitutive nature of the enzymes of citrate metabolism inStreptococcus lactissubsp.diacetylactis

Four enzymes of citrate metabolism (viz. citrate lyase, acetolactate synthase, diacetyl reductase and acetoin reductase) were constitutively present in cells of several strains ofStreptococcus lactissubsp.diacetylactis. In strain DRC1, which was studied in detail, diacetyl reductase and acetoin reductase were partly repressed and acetolactate synthase partly induced by growth on citrate. The stage of growth also affected the formation of each enzyme. The buffer species affected the activity of acetolactate synthase, diacetyl reductase and acetoin reductase.

Biotechnological production of 2,3-butanediol--current state and prospects

Biotechnological production of 2,3-butanediol (hereafter referred to as 2,3-BD) from wastes and excessive biomass is a promising and attractive alternative for traditional chemical synthesis. In the face of scarcity of fossil fuel supplies the bio-based process is receiving a significant interest, since 2,3-BD may have multiple practical applications (e.g. production of synthetic rubber, plasticizers, fumigants, as an antifreeze agent, fuel additive, octane booster, and many others). Although the 2,3-BD pathway is well known, microorganisms able to ferment biomass to 2,3-BD have been isolated and described, and attempts of pilot scale production of this compound were made, still much has to be done in order to achieve desired profitability. This review summarizes hitherto gained knowledge and experience in biotechnological production of 2,3-BD, sources of biomass used, employed microorganisms both wild type and genetically improved strains, as well as operating conditions applied.

Identification of human liver diacetyl reductases by nano-liquid chromatography/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Several forms of diacetyl-reducing enzyme were found to exist in the human liver cytosol. Three (DAR-2, DAR-5, and DAR-7) of them were purified as a single band on SDS-PAGE by a combination of a few kinds of column chromatographies. The in-gel tryptic digests of the purified enzymes were analyzed by nano-liquid chromatography (LC)/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT ICR MS), which provided peptide masses at a ppm-level accuracy. The enzymes, DAR-2, DAR-5, and DAR-7, were identified as alcohol dehydrogenase beta subunit (ADH2), carbonyl reductase (CBR1), and aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1), respectively, by peptide mass fingerprinting. In addition, an alternating-scan acquisition of nano-LC/FT ICR mass spectra, i.e., switching of normal acquisition conditions and in-source fragmentation conditions scan by scan, provided sets of parent and fragment ion masses of many of the tryptic peptides in a single LC/MS run. The peptide sequence-tag information at the ppm-level accuracy was used to further confirm the protein identities. It was demonstrated that nano-LC/FT ICR MS can be used for rigorous protein identification at a subpicomole level as an alternative technique to nano-LC/MS/MS.

Molecular cloning, expression and tissue distribution of hamster diacetyl reductase. Identity with L-xylulose reductase

Using rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR, a cDNA species for diacetyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.5) was isolated from hamster liver. The encoded protein consisted of 244 amino acids, and showed high sequence identity to mouse lung carbonyl reductase and hamster sperm P26h protein, which belong to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family. The enzyme efficiently reduced L-xylulose as well as diacetyl, and slowly oxidized xylitol. The K(m) values for L-xylulose and xylitol were similar to those reported for L-xylulose reductase (EC 1.1.1.10) of guinea pig liver. The identity of diacetyl reductase with L-xylulose reductase was demonstrated by co-purification of the two enzyme activities from hamster liver and their proportional distribution in other tissues.

Properties of diacetyl (acetoin) reductase from Bacillus stearothermophilus

The cells of Bacillus stearothermophilus contain an NADH-dependent diacetyl (acetoin) reductase. The enzyme was easily purified to homogeneity, partially characterised, and found to be composed of two subunits with the same molecular weight. In the presence of NADH, it catalyses the stereospecific reduction of diacetyl first to (3S)-acetoin and then to (2S,3S)-butanediol; in the presence of NAD+, it catalyses the oxidation of (2S,3S)- and meso-butanediol, respectively, to (3S)-acetoin and to (3R)-acetoin, but is unable to oxidise these compounds to diacetyl. The enzyme is also able to catalyse redox reactions involving some endo-bicyclic octen- and heptenols and the related ketones, and its use is suggested also for the recycling of NAD+ and NADH in enzymatic redox reactions useful in organic syntheses.

Purification, characterization and some properties of diacetyl(acetoin) reductase from Enterobacter aerogenes

A new method, faster, milder and more efficient than the one previously described [Bryn, K., Hetland, O. & Stormer, F. C. (1971) Eur. J. Biochem, 18, 116-119], for purification of diacetyl(acetoin) reductase from Enterobacter aerogenes is proposed. The experiments carried out with the electrophoretically pure preparations obtained by this procedure show that the enzyme (a) produces L-glycols from the corresponding L-alpha-hydroxycarbonyls by reversible reduction of their oxo groups and also reduces the oxo group of uncharged alpha-dicarbonyls converting them into L-alpha-hydroxycarbonyls, and (b) is specific for NAD. This is a new enzyme for which we suggest the systematic name of L-glycol: NAD+ oxidoreductase and the recommended name of L-glycol dehydrogenase(NAD). The molecular mass, pI, affinity for substrates and pH profiles of this enzyme are also described.

Purification and characterization of a (R)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A NAD-dependent (R)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.4), selectively catalyzing the oxidation at the (R)-center of 2,3-butanediol irrespective of the absolute configuration of the other carbinol center, was isolated from cell extracts of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Purification was achieved by means of streptomycin sulfate treatment, Sephadex G-25 filtration, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography, affinity chromatography on Matrex Gel Blue A and Superose 6 prep grade chromatography leading to a 70-fold enrichment of the specific activity with 44% yield. Analysis of chiral products was carried out by gas chromatographic methods via pre-chromatographic derivatization and resolution of corresponding diastereomeric derivatives. The enzyme was capable to reduce irreversibly diacetyl (2,3-butanediol) to (R)-acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) and in a subsequent reaction reversibly to (R,R)-2,3-butanediol using NADH as coenzyme. 1-Hydroxy-2-ketones and C5-acyloins were also accepted as substrates, whereas the enzyme was inactive towards the reduction of acetone and dihydroxyacetone. The relative molecular mass (Mr) of the enzyme was estimated as 140,000 by means of gel filtration. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel the protein decomposed into 4 (identical) subunits of Mr 35,000. Optimum pH was 6.7 for the reduction of acetoin to 2,3-butanediol and 7.2 for the reverse reaction.

Purification and characterization of diacetyl-reducing enzymes from Staphylococcus aureus

A method was developed to purify diacetyl-reducing enzymes from Staphylococcus aureus. Two enzymes capable of catalysing diacetyl reduction were isolated, neither of which turned out to be a specific diacetyl reductase. One of them is a lactate dehydrogenase similar to the one from Staphylococcus epidermidis, which accepts diacetyl, although poorly. The other one uses as coenzyme beta-NAD and reduces uncharged alpha-dicarbonyls with more than three carbon atoms (especially the alpha-diketones diacetyl and pentane-2,3-dione), producing the L(+) form of the corresponding alpha-hydroxycarbonyls. This enzyme has an Mr of 68,000 and is, most probably, a monomer. Its optimum pH is 6.0. Its shows a high affinity for NADH and a rather low one for diacetyl, which, at least in vitro, does not seem to be as good a substrate as pentane-2,3-dione. We propose for it the systematic name L-alpha-hydroxyketone:NAD+ oxidoreductase and the recommended name of alpha-diketone reductase (NAD). We also suggest that the diacetyl reductase entry in the I.U.B. classification be suppressed.

A multifunctional fermentative alcohol dehydrogenase from the strict aerobe Alcaligenes eutrophus: purification and properties

A NAD (P)-linked alcohol dehydrogenase was isolated from the soluble extract of the strictly respiratory bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus N9A. Derepression of the formation of this enzyme occurs only in cells incubated under conditions of restricted oxygen supply for prolonged times. The purification procedure included precipitation by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and ammonium sulfate and subsequent chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, Cibacron blue F3G-A Sepharose and thiol-Sepharose. The procedure resulted in a 120-fold purification of a multifunctional alcohol dehydrogenase exhibiting dehydrogenase activities for 2,3-butanediol, ethanol and acetaldehyde and reductase activities for diacetyl, acetoin and acetaldehyde. During purification the ratio between 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase and ethanol dehydrogenase activity remained nearly constant. Recovering about 20% of the initial 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase activity, the specific activity of the final preparation was 70.0 U X mg protein-1 (2,3-butanediol oxidation) and 2.8 U X mg protein-1 (ethanol oxidation). The alcohol dehydrogenase is a tetramer of a relative molecular mass of 156000 consisting of four equal subunits. The determination of the Km values for different substrates and coenzymes as well as the determination of the pH optima for the reactions catalyzed resulted in values which were in good agreement with the fermentative function of this enzyme. The alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzed the NAD (P)-dependent dismutation of acetaldehyde to acetate and ethanol. This reaction was studied in detail, and its possible involvement in acetate formation is discussed. Among various compounds tested for affecting enzyme activity only NAD, NADP, AMP, ADP, acetate and 2-mercaptoethanol exhibited significant effects.

Further purification and characterization of diacetyl reductase from pigeon liver

Electrophoretically pure preparation of an enzyme from pigeon liver which is classified in the I.U.B. Enzyme List as a specific diacetyl reductase (Acetoin: NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.5) have been obtained. This enzyme has been characterized as an alpha-dicarbonyl reductase (L(+)-alpha-hydroxicarbonyl: NAD(P) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1...) similar to the one recently discovered from beef liver by the authors' group. Although differences in mol wt among these two reductases had been reported, both of them are oligomers of 25,000-26,000 dalton subunits.

Purification and some properties of L-glycol dehydrogenase from hen's muscle

1. An enzyme which catalyzes the NAD(P)H-linked reversible reduction of uncharged vicinal dicarbonyls and alpha-hydroxycarbonyls to L-(+)-glycols has been purified from hen's muscle. This enzyme has not been previously described. 2. According to the rules of the I.U.P.A.C.-I.U.B. Enzymes Commission, the systematic name of L-(+)-glycol:NAD(P) oxidoreductase and the trivial name of L-glycol dehydrogenase are proposed for the enzyme. 3. Three forms of this enzyme differing in pI have been isolated; two forms, which together represent about 90% of total recovered activity, and electrophoretically pure. 4. Molecular weight, pH profiles and affinity for substrates are also described.

Bacterial 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenases

Enterobacter aerogenes, Aeromonas hydrophila, Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus possessing L(+)-butanediol dehydrogenase produced mainly meso-butanediol and small amounts of optically active butanediol; Acetobacter suboxydans, Bacillus polymyxa and Erwinia carotovora containing D(-)-butanediol dehydrogenase produced more optically active butanediol than meso-butanediol. Resting and growing cells of these organisms oxidezed only one enantiomer of racemic butanediol. The D(-)-butanediol dehydrogenase from Bacillus polymyxa was partially purified (30-fold) with a specific activity of 24.5. Except NAD and NADH no other cofactors were required. Optimum pH-values for oxidation and reduction were pH 9 and pH 7, respectively. The optimum temperature was about 60 degrees C. The molecular weight was 100000 to 107000. The Km-values were 3.3 mM for D(-)butanediol, 6.25 mM for meso-butanediol, 0.53 mM for acetoin, 0.2 mM for NAD, 0.1 mM for NADH, 87 mM for diacetyl, 38 mM for 1,2-propanediol; 2,3-pentanedion was not a substrate for this enzyme. The L(+)butanediol dehydrogenase from Serratia marcescens was purified 57-fold (specific activity 22.3). Besides NAD or NADH no cofactors were required. The optimum value for oxidation was about pH9 and for reduction pH 4.5. The optimum temperature was 32-36 degrees C. The molecular weight was 100000 to 107000. The Km-values were 5 mM for meso-butanediol, 10 mM for racemic butanediol, 6.45 for acetoin, 1 mM for NAD, 0.25 mM for NADH, 2.08 mM for diacetyl, 16.7 mM for 2,3-pentanedion and 11.8 mM for 1,2-propanediol.

Acetoin degradation in Bacillus subtilis by direct oxidative cleavage

Acetate and acetaldehyde can be detected as products of the oxidative dissimilation of acetoin in Bacillus subtilis extracts. They arise as the result of the direct cleavage of acetoin without a previous oxidation to diacetyl. This can be deduced from the following observations: (a) no diacetyl was detected in acetoin dissimilation experiments in vitro and (b) methylacetoin, an acetoin analogue which can not be oxidized to the diketone, also undergoes oxidative splitting, yielding acetone and acetate. The splitting reaction requires thiamine pyrophosphate as a cofactor, suggesting that the oxidative step occurs, as known for similar reactions, by the electron transfer from hydroxyethylthiamine pyrophosphate to a proper acceptor, which in vitro can be replaced by dichlorophenolindophenol. In vivo the final product of the oxidation of hydroxyethylthiamine pyrophosphate is activated acetate. A mutant which lacks acetoin-cleaving activity can not reutilize the acetoin accumulated after growth in glucose. This corroborates the actual importance of the cleavage reaction for acetoin dissimilation. The enzyme diacetylmethylcarbinol synthase, thought to be responsible for the formation of diacetylmethylcarbinol from diacetyl, probably is identical to the enzyme catalyzing the cleavage of acetoin.

Physiological and biochemical role of the butanediol pathway in Aerobacter (Enterobacter) aerogenes

Aerobacter (Enterobacter) aerogenes wild type and three mutants deficient in the formation of acetoin and 2,3-butanediol were grown in a glucose minimal medium. Culture densities, pH, and diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol levels were recorded. The pH in wild-type cultures dropped from 7.0 to 5.8, remained constant while acetoin and 2,3-butanediol were formed, and increased to pH 6.5 after exhaustion of the carbon source. More 2,3-butanediol than acetoin was formed initially, but after glucose exhaustion reoxidation to acetoin occurred. The three mutants differed from the wild type in yielding acid cultures (pH below 4.5). The wild type and one of the mutants were grown exponentially under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with the pH fixed at 7.0, 5.8, and 5.0, respectively. Growth rates decreased with decreasing pH values. Aerobically, this effect was weak, and the two strains were affected to the same degree. Under anaerobic conditions, the growth rates were markedly inhibited at a low pH, and the mutant was slightly more affected than the wild type. Levels of alcohol dehydrogenase were low under all conditions, indicating that the enzyme plays no role during exponential growth. The levels of diacetyl (acetoin) reductase, lactate dehydrogenase, and phosphotransacetylase were independent of the pH during aerobic growth of the two strains. Under anaerobic conditions, the formation of diacetyl (acetoin) reductase was pH dependent, with much higher levels of the enzyme at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.0. Lactate dehydrogenase and phosphotransacetylase revealed the same pattern of pH-dependent formation in the mutant, but not in the wild type.

Purification and properties of a diacetyl reductase from Escherichia coli

A reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent reductase with the ability to reduce diacetyl has been isolated from Escherichia coli and has been purified 800-fold to near homogeneity. The product of the reduction of diacetyl was shown to be acetoin. The enzyme proved to catalyze the oxidation of NADPH in the presence of both uncharged alpha- and beta-dicarbonyl compounds. Even monocarbonyl compounds showed slight activity with the enzyme. On the basis of its substrate specificity, it is suggested that the enzyme functions as a diacetyl reductase. In contrast to other diacetyl reductases, the one reported here is specific for NADPH and does not possess acetoin reductase activity. The pH optimum of this enzyme was found to be between 6 and 7. The maximal velocity for the NADPH-dependent reduction of diacetyl was determined to be 9.5 mumol per min per mg of protein and the K(m) values for diacetyl and NADPH were found to be 4.44 mM and 0.02 mM, respectively. The molecular weight was estimated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 to be approximately 10,000.

Diacetyl, acetoin, and acetaldehyde production by mixed-species lactic starter cultures

Citrate utilization and acetoin, diacetyl, acetaldehyde, and lactic acid production in milk at 21 C by five different mixed-strain starters, containing Streptococcus diacetilactis (D type), Leuconostoc (B type), and S. diacetilactis and Leuconostoc (BD type), were measured. BD and D cultures utilized citrate more rapidly and produced more diacetyl, acetoin, and acetaldehyde than B types. All cultures produced much more acetoin than diacetyl, with the BD and D cultures producing four to five times larger amounts of acetoin than the B cultures. Reduction of diacetyl and acetoin toward the end of the normal incubation period was characteristic of BD and D cultures, whereas a similar reduction of acetaldehyde was characteristic of BD and especially of B cultures. Continued incubation of B cultures beyond 17 h also resulted in reduction of diacetyl and acetoin. Addition of citrate to the milk retarded diacetyl and acetoin reduction. Mn(2+) had no effect on diacetyl production by a BD culture but increased citrate utilization and, as a consequence, caused greater diacetyl destruction in one of the B cultures.