L-Tyrosine oxidative metabolism byStreptomyces aureofaciens

L-Tyrosine metabolism found in normal mammalian system via homogentisic acid was investigated inStreptomyces aureofaciens S-834 as L-tyrosine was shown to possess the stimulatory role in the production of chlortetracycline antibiotic. L-Tyrosine as well as the substrates of the intermediary oxidative enzymes-p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (p-HPPA) hydroxylase and homogentisate (HGA) oxygenase were incubated with the washed, resting cells of the culture and by adding sodium diethyldithiocarbamate andα,α'-dipyridyl, the specific inhibitors of these enzymes to the culture, the oxidative intermediates-p-HPPA and HGA were blocked from further utilisation and were accumulated and isolated by extraction with the appropriate solvent system. The intermediates consisted of keto acids and aromatic phenolic acids were separated by adsorption and elution on silica gel and sephadex gel columns. p-HPPA and acetoacetate (AA) were identified as keto acids by obtaining their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives. HGA as well as p-HPPA were identified as phenolic acids along with HGA lactone using diazotized reagents. These investigations helped to establish L-tyrosine oxidative pathway inStreptomyces aureofaciens via p-HPPA, HGA and AA leading to the biosynthesis of chlortetracycline antibiotic.