Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids
Published on: January 26, 2012
Synthesis of 2-hydroxy acid from 2-amino acid by Clostridium butyricum
N Khelifa1, M J Butel, A Rimbault
1Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Unité Microbiologie Anaérobie, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques de Paris, Université René Descartes, France. nasser.khelifa@pharmacie.univ-paris5.fr
Abstract:
Cultures of Clostridium butyricum type strain in synthetic medium supplemented with various L-2-amino acids revealed the presence of the corresponding 2-hydroxy acid. This metabolite is able to produce the polyester poly(2-hydroxyalkanoic acid). The bioconversion is not stereoselective since D-2-amino acids were also converted. Chiral GC analysis demonstrated that only D-enantiomer is formed from L-leucine.
Related Concept Videos
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic acid...
Amides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis:
Hydrolysis of amides under acidic conditions yields carboxylic acids. Since the reaction occurs slowly, hydrolysis requires the conditions of heat.
The mechanism begins with the protonation of the carbonyl oxygen by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the amide carbonyl carbon more...
Nitriles to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Preparation of Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis of Nitriles
Amino Acid Catabolism
Production of Organic Acids

