Metabolism of 5-hydroxylysine in Pseudomonas fluorescens

Hydroxylysine is metabolized via two routes by a Pseudomonas fluorescens strain as shown by the oxidation of selected intermediates. Hydroxy-L-lysine is oxidized via a pathway analogous to the monooxygenase pathway for L-lysine, and data suggest that at least some of tthe enzymes are those involved in the metabolism of L-lysine. Hydroxy-L-lysine is also converted by a racemase to allohydroxy-D-lysine, which is then degraded via a pathway analogous to, but different from, that described for D-lysine, involving hydroxy-L-pipecolate, 2-amino-5-hydroxyadipate, and 2-hydroxyglutarate. Data obtained with mutants unable to oxidize L-pipecolate suggest that the enzymes for the metabolism of hydroxy-L-pipecolate are distinct from those for L-pipecolate. Studies on D- and L-lysine degradation have shown that the previously described pathways for these compounds are present in this soil pseudomonad.