METABOLISM OF PYRROLIDONE CARBOXYLIC ACID BY BACTERIA

Abstract

Several strains of soil Pseudomonas (species not identified) were cultivated at 30 C in a medium (pH 7.0), containing 0.5% L-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA). The cells oxidize PCA, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, succinic acid, proline, and L-glutamic acid. The end-products of PCA identified were glutamic, succinic, acetic and other organic acids. Cell-free extracts prepared by grinding on alumina, eluting with [image]/15 phosphate buffer (pH 7.2), and centrifuging (30,000 g, 20 minutes), successively, oxidize PCA completely, consuming 4.5 [mu] [image] O2/[mu] [image] PGA metabolized). KCN (0.001[image]) is inhibitory in the extract, but not in the cell suspension. Glutamic acid-gamma hydrazide completely inhibits glutamate oxidation but not PCA oxidation by the extract. Pyrrolidone is oxidized slightly by the cells and not at all by the extracts. Neither glutamic acid nor pyrrolidone is the degradative intermediate of PCA.