AMINO ACID METABOLISM BY PLEUROPNEUMONIALIKE ORGANISMS I

Abstract

Resting cells of 2 strains of pleuropneumonialike organisms of human origin which grow on a synthetic basal medium with added lipoprotein were used in determining what amino acids were catabolized. A quantitative paper chromatographic method was developed and used for the determination of amino acids. Eighteen amino acids and glutamine were used as substrates. Slow anaerobic breakdown of tyrosine and tryptophan and aerobic breakdown of histidine, leucine and threonine occurred. Aspartic and glutamic acids were metabolized at a more rapid rate. Arginine was shown to be converted to citrulline. However, quantitative recovery of arginine as citrulline was not obtained. Glutamine was shown to be converted to glutamic acid which was further broken down to a compound giving a reaction with isatin. Attempts to demonstrate transaminases were either unsuccessful or inconclusive.