[Formation of so-called byproducts (propanols, butanols et al.) from ethanol by microorganisms]. / Zur Bildung sogenannter Begleitstoffe (Propanole, Butanole u. a.) aus Ethanol durch Mikroorganismen.

Microbiological literature implies and furnishes evidence that aliphatic alcohols and the corresponding carboxylates as well as acetone can be produced from ethanol during microbial metabolic processes. Propionate/propanol-1 followed by butyrate can be obtained by means of step-by-step reductive carboxylation of acetyl-CoA. Both butyrate/butanol-1 and caproate/hexanol-1 are typical fermentation products of Clostridium kluyvery. In cases where butyrate decomposition is disrupted up to 50% of butyrate is isomerised to isobutyrate. In addition to ethanol, butyrate and butanol-1, isopropanol and acetone are characteristic products of commercially used Clostridia. One would expect that saccharolytic organisms producing ethanol in addition to other "solvents" (butanol-1, acetone, isopropanol) can also synthesise the solvents if the substrate is changed (ethanol instead of carbohydrate). Under carbon monoxide, formiate and hydrogen, some CODH-active Clostridia can, very efficiently, convert various carboxylates into the corresponding alcohols. There are several groups of organisms present in human intestinal tract that can utilise ethanol and other alcohols.

[Methanol from ethanol? On cleavage of the ethanol carbon bond and methanol formation within the scope of microbial metabolic processes]. / Methanol aus Ethanol? Zur Spaltung der ethanolischen Kohlenstoffbindung und zur Methanolbildung im Rahmen mikrobieller Stoffwechselprozesse.

While making investigations into microbiological literature, the following question was looked into: Are microorganisms able to generate methanol from the basic carbon frame of ethanol? Due to carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complexes some methanogens and acetate oxidisers are able to cleave the carbon bond of acetyl-CoA. Coenzyme bonded methyl groups (methyl-H4MPT, methyl-CoM, methyl-THF) are generated both by means of reduction (methano-genesis) and by means of oxidation (CO2 evolution) of the C2-unit. Usually these are looked at as precursors of methanol. Methanotrophs and certain methylotrophs are able to oxidise methane to methanol by means of oxigenase complexes. The C1-unit supplies coenzyme bonded CO; carbon monoxide can be reduced to methanol very effectively by several Clostridia. Both in vivo analysis of intestinal gases of alcoholised individuals and incubation experiments with certain intestinal groups with marked alcohol, might contribute in judging the real importance of the intestinal micro flora with regard to the problems of ethanol congeners.

[Aldehyde metabolizing enzymes in the central nervous system and liver--electrophoresis studies of alcoholism]. / Aldehydmetabolisierende Enzyme im ZNS und in der Leber--elektrophoretische Untersuchungen zur Alkoholismusproblematik.

The enzyme systems aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) and S-formylglutation dehydrogenase (FGH/ESD) were investigated in specimen of cadaveric liver and brain by semiquantitative adjusted starch gel electrophoresis. Two groups of autopsy cases were compaired 1. alcoholics with fatty liver and 2. nonalcoholics. In ALDH and FDH there were no differences between the examined groups. In about 48% of specimens of alcoholics were in a more or less degree alterations in phenotypes of ESD detectable in vitro experiments showed that ESD spots were modified and became less intensive in the presence of formaldehyde (0.5-2.5 mg/g). These alterations were more intensiv in the phenotyp ESD 1 then in the phenotyp ESD 2-1.

Human malic enzyme-2 polymorphism in the GDR.

Leukocyte malic enzyme-2 (ME2) phenotypes were studied in 313 blood samples from unselected subjects and in 241 human brain tissue samples (postmortem examinations) from the northern part of the GDR. The ME2(2) frequency was 0.34 and the same in blood and brain samples. The gene frequencies were in agreement with those previously reported for European populations. A study of 71 mother-child pairs supported a genetic transmission by two alleles at an autosomal locus.

[EsD gene defect in the myocardium of a 33-year-old man (author's transl)]. / EsD-Gendefekt im Myokard eines 33jährigen Mannes.

While establishing normal EsD patterns in human body tissues, one exception was found among 253 samples (23 different tissues from each of 11 cadavers). No EsD activity could be established in the zymogram for the myocardium extract from a 33-year-old man although the other tissues, erythrocyte hemolysate, and spermatocystic secretion were characteristic for the type 2-1.

[Glyoxalase I (GLO) in human tissues (author's transl)]. / Glyoxalase I (GLO) in menschlichen Körpergeweben.

In 49 autopsies (23 samples of tissue per case--skin, skeletal muscle, cerebrum, cerebellum, tongue, tonsil, submandibular gland, thyroid gland, lymph node, lung, heart, stomach, small and large intestine, liver, spleen, suprarenal gland, kidney, prostate, testicle, uterus, uterusleiomyoma and bone marrow) identical GLO phenotypes with analogous blood pattern were found.

On the population genetics of the red cell glyoxalase I (GLO).

The GLO phenotype distribution was studied in the population from the Rostock area (n = 233). The gene frequencies of GLO alleles were estimated to be GLO1 = 0.4249, GLO2 = 0.5751. The electrophoretic separation was achieved on horizontal starch gel.