STUDIES ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF PRODIGIOSIN IN SERRATIA MARCESCENS

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Abstract
Experiments relating to the biosynthesis of prodigiosin were designed to determine whether the pigment is derived from 5-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen or from proline. Glycine-2-C14 is incorporated into prodigiosin whereas 5-aminolevulinic acid-5-Cl4 is not, indicating that prodigiosin is not derived biosynthetically from the same pyrrolic precursor as porphyrins. Other results obtained with L-proline-C14 substantiate that 5-aminolevulinic acid is not a precursor of prodigiosin and favor the view that L-proline or a closely related derivative is an intermediate in the biosynthesis. It is suggested that the pyrrolic presursor from the S. marcescens mutant having the formula C10H10N2O2 (Santer and Vogel, Biochim. et Biophys. Acta, 19: 578, 1956) as well as prodigiosin are built up of 5-carbon units and that the amyl group in the latter is derived from a similar deaminated 5-carbon unit. A hypothetical scheme for biosynthesis of prodigiosin from 5-carbon units is presented.