INVESTIGATIONS ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF CITROVORUM FACTOR BY LACTIC ACID BACTERIA

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Growing and resting cells of several lactobacilli synthesize citrovorum factor. The conversion of pteroylglutamic acid to citrovorum factor by resting cells was proportional to the concn. of pteroylglutamic acid added and was enhanced by the addition of ascorbic acid. Lactobacillus arabinosus synthesized citrovorum factor from both p-aminobenzoic acid and pteroylglutamic acid. Aminopterin inhibited the conversion of pteroylglutamic acid to citrovorum factor by all the test organisms. In the case of L. arabinosus sulfanilamide totally inhibited the conversion of p-aminobenzoic acid to citrovorum factor but only partially blocked the formation of citrovorum factor from pteroylglutamic acid. The data are interpreted as indicating the formation of citrovorum factor through the biosynthetic pathway p-aminobenzoic acid [forward arrow] pteroylglutamic acid [forward arrow]citrovorum factor.