Abstract
Radio-isotope studies indicated not only that l-tryptophan can serve as carbon source for synthesis of the trypanocide, violacein by Chromobacterium violaceum (BB-78 strain) but also that isatin and indole 3-acetic acid are both important metabolic intermediates. Using 3-indolyl [2-14C] and [1-14C] acetic acid, it was found that the carboxylic carbon was not eliminated and that indole-3-acetic acid was incorporated intact into the pigment structure. N-Ethyl(5-hydroxy-indol-3-yl)-2-indolylethylamide is also an important metabolic intermediate in the violacein biosynthesis. This is the first report of a metabolic scheme for violacein synthesis which includes an intermediate other than l-tryptophan.
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Durán, N., Antonio, R.V., Haun, M. et al. Biosynthesis of a trypanocide by Chromobacterium violaceum . World J Microbiol Biotechnol 10, 686–690 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327960
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327960