Metabolism of N-carbobenzoxyl-L-tryptophan by Chromobacterium violaceum

Chromobacterium violaceum (ATCC 12472) metabolizes N-carbobenzoxyl-L-tryptophan into its 2', 3'-dehydro-derivative, and indole-3-propionic acid into indole-3-acrylic acid. The biotransformation accurs in resting cell incubations, and in growing cultures of the bacterium. Tryptophan in fermentation media enhances the ability of Chromobacterium violaceum to perform the conversion by an undetermined mechanism. The amino acid also prevents stored cultures from losing the ability to accomplish the biotransformation. The reaction apparently requires oxygen, and preliminary experiments suggest that it is catalyzed by a dehydrogenase.