Summary
The degradation of tryptophan (Try) and some of its potential intermediates has been studied in nodule bacteria (Rhizobium leguminosarum Frank, ATCC 10324). In feeding experiments with washed suspensions the following degradation products of Try could be identified by thin-layer chromatography: indolyl-3-pyruvic acid (IBS); indolyl-3-acetic acid (IES); β-(indolyl-3)-lactic acid (IMS); indole-carboxylic acid-(3) (ICS); β-(indolyl-3)-ethanol (β-IÄ); indole-aldehyde-(3) (IAld); indolyl-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld); Nα-acetyl-tryptophan (Ac-Try).
An active Try-transaminase leading to the formation of IBS has been demonstrated. Phenylpyruvic acid as well as α-ketoglutaric acid served as amino group acceptors.
The breakdown of Try was followed quantitatively by using C-14(2-alanyl-) D,L-tryptophan. After 16 hrs nearly 16% of the original radioactivity was found in the ether-extractable material. IES and IMS were formed in much the highest concentrations.
Indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), although not a Try-metabolite in Rhizobium leguminosarum was converted to IES via indole-3-acetamide (IAAm). The following physiological pathways in the breakdown of Try in Rhizobium leguminosarum have been confirmed: Try → Ac-Try and IBS; IBS → IAAld; IAAld → β-IÄ and IES; no further degradation of IES was observed.
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Hartmann, T., Glombitza, KW. Der Tryptophanabbau bei Rhizobium leguminosarum. Archiv für Mikrobiologie 56, 1–8 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406049
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406049