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Induction of Pigmentation in Nonproliferating Cells of Serratia marcescens by Addition of Single Amino Acids

Department of Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77025

ABSTRACT

Addition of casein hydrolysate to suspensions of washed, nonpigmented, nonproliferating Serratia marcescens incubating at 27 C induced biosynthesis of prodigiosin. Four amino acids of casein hydrolysate, DL-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, and L-alanine caused formation of pigment when added individually. DL-Ornithine also was effective. Optimal concentrations for maximal pigmentation were 5 to 10 mg/ml; at these high concentrations, D-serine also induced biosynthesis of some prodigiosin. DL-Alanine and -ornithine were as effective as the L-iosomers, but L-glutamic acid and L-proline gave better responses than their racemic mixtures. Kinetics of prodigiosin biosynthesis after addition of DL-alanine (20 mg/ml) were similar to those of cells suspended in 0.2% casein hydrolysate. The other amino acids were less effective. Addition of 5 mg of DL-alanine or casein hydrolysate per ml to minimal medium increased by 30% the amount of prodigiosin formed by growing cells after incubation for 7 days at 27 C. Cultures grown for 7 days at 27 C in 0.2% casein hydrolsate formed more prodigiosin than did suspensions of nonproliferating cells containing individual amino acids or casein hydrolysate. However, more pigment was produced by cells suspended in L-alanine (5 mg/ml) or L-proline (10 mg/ml) than when suspended in 0.4% natural or synthetic casein hydrolysate. Filtrates from suspensions of nonproliferating cells forming pigment in L-proline induced more rapid formation of prodigiosin, but filtrates from suspensions in DL-alanine did not. The data supported the hypothesis that pyrrole groups of prodigiosin may be synthesized from 5-carbon amino acids such as proline, ornithine, aspartic, and glutamic acids, but the role of alanine is unknown.

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