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Updated: May 22, 2026

Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Refractive Index or Mass Spectrometric Detection for Metabolite Profiling in Lysate-based Cell-free Systems
Published on: September 23, 2021
Metabolism of D: (+)-carnitine by Escherichia coli
1Bereich Biochemie, Sektion Biowissenschaften, Universität Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, O-7010, Leipzig, Federal Republic of Germany.
Abstract:
Escherichia coli 044 K74 grown under anaerobic conditions in the presence of L: (-)-carnitine is able to convert D: (+)-carnitine into the L: (-)-enantiomer. This activity is repressed by electron acceptors such as oxygen and nitrate as well as by glucose. D: (+)-Carnitine shows no effect on the induction or repression of the corresponding enzyme or enzyme system. Resting cells of E. coli 044 K74 were used for the formation of L: (-)-carnitine from D: (+)-carnitine. The maximum obtained yield was 50%. γ-Butyrobetaine was formed as a by-product.
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