This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Allison, M. J. Articles by Robinson, I. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Allison, M. J. Articles by Robinson, I. M.

Biosynthesis of Phenylalanine from Phenylacetate by Chromatium and Rhodospirillum rubrum

National Animal Disease Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, Iowa

ABSTRACT

Cultures of Chromatium strain D and Rhodospirillum rubrum incorporated ¹⁴C from phenylacetate-1-¹⁴C during anaerobic growth. The radioactivity in the protein fraction of cells was mainly in phenylalanine. Phenylalanine from Chromatium cells grown in phenylacetate-1-¹⁴C was labeled at carbon 2. Incorporation of phenylacetate by Chromatium was decreased in the presence of exogenous phenylalanine, and de novo synthesis of phenylalanine from bicarbonate was less in medium containing either phenylalanine or phenylacetate. These organisms, and also certain anaerobic rumen bacteria, apparently carboxylate phenylacetate to synthesize the phenylalanine carbon skeleton. The mechanism of the carboxylation is unknown; however, it appears to be dependent upon anaerobic conditions, since R. rubrum did not synthesize phenylalanine from phenylacetate during aerobic growth in the dark.