Diacetyl and acetoin production from the co-metabolism of citrate and xylose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides.

The co-metabolism of citrate plus xylose by Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides results in a growth stimulation, an increase in D-lactate and acetate production and repression of ethanol production. This correlated well with the levels of key enzymes involved. A partial repression of alcohol dehydrogenase and a marked stimulation of acetate kinase were observed. High citrate bioconversion yields in diacetyl plus acetoin were obtained at pH 5.2 in batch (11.5%) or in chemostat (up to 17.4%) culture. In contrast, no diacetyl or acetoin was detected in citrate plus glucose fermentation.