STUDIES ON THE FORMATION OF FORMATE, GLYCINE, SERINE, PYRUVATE AND ACETATE FROM PURINES BY CLOSTRIDIUM ACIDI-URICI

Abstract

Intact cells of C. acidi-urici quantitatively convert L-serine to pyruvate which accumulates. Degradation of labeled uric acid or guanine in the presence of unlabeled L-serine produces labeled pyruvate. Addition of sulfathiazole during purine degradation causes glycine and formate to accumulate in small amounts; purine degradation in the presence of labeled glycine or formate with added L-serine yields labeled pyruvate. These observations and the position of the labeling in the isolated pyruvate are in agreement with the reaction: purine[forward arrow] glycine + "formate"[forward arrow] L-serine[forward arrow] pyruvate[forward arrow] acetate + CO2- Formaldehyde and not formate appears to be the active Cl compound.