Formation of Cyclohexylamine and Cyclohexanone from Cyclamate by Microorganisms Isolated from the Feces of Guinea Pig

Abstract

The assimilation of sodium cyclamate (CHS-Na) by microorganisms was studied. Fif-teen strains of cyclamate-assimilating bacteria were isolated from the feces of guinea pig excreting cyclohexylamine (CHA) in urine. The majority of the strain isolated seems to belong to the genera Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium. All strains were able to assimilate CHS-Na as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and accumulated clearly CHA in the culture medium. It was confirmed with the cell-free extract that the strains possessed the enzyme system which formed cyclohexanone (CHnone) from CHS-Na via CHA. It seems that the desulfation of CHS-Na to CHA is catalyzed by hydrolase, and that the deamina-tion of CHA to CHnone is catalyzed by amine oxidase depending on oxygen.