Serratamic acid, a derivative of l-serine produced by organisms of the Serratia group

Abstract

Serratamic acid, m.p. 138[degree] (decomposition), is produced by several strains of species of Serratia. Serratamic acid is readily hydrolyzed by both mineral acids and alkalis. Acid hydrolysis yields L-serine and an acid, C10H20O3, tentatively identified as a hydroxydecanoic acid, which is oxidized to octanoic acid or one of its isomers. The linkage between the amino acid and hydroxy acid appears to be of the peptide type. Serratamic acid is not responsible for the antibiotic activity of strains of S. marcescens producing this acid. The growth of organisms of the genus Serratia to produce serratamic acid affords a convenient source of L-serine.