EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF TETRAPYRROLE COMPOUNDS BY PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA : (II)ROLE OF δ-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID IN THE FORMATION OF TETRAPYRROLE COMPOUNDS

Abstract

The role of δ-aminolevulinic acid was studied in the biosynthesis of corrinoids and porphyrins with the resting cells of Propionibacterium shermanii. Anaerobic incubation resulted in the increased production of corrinoids and porphyrins, but majority of the former was incomplete (nucleotide-free) corrinoid carboxylic acids. It was also found that the use of the increased amount of δ-aminolevulinic acid in the anaerobic incubation resulted in the formation of more incomplete corrinoid poly(probably tetra and penta)-carboxylic acids. It is interesting that the aerobic incubation subsequent to the anaerobic permitted easily the conversion of incomplete corrinoids to the complete forms and the amidation of carboxylic side chains of corrin ring.