Abstract |
The relationship between L-tyrosine catabolism and melanin formation was studied in the Vibrio cholerae strains ATCC 14035 and CECT 557. It is shown that both strains degrade L-tyrosine by the same pathway as eukaryotic cells, giving homogentisate as intermediate. ATCC 14035, an O1 strain, which is not able to grow using L-tyrosine as sole carbon and energy source, but it forms pyomelanin from homogentisate. The second strain, which is non-O1, is able to grow using L-tyrosine as sole carbon and energy source, but it does not form any pigment. Both strains contain all the enzymes involved in the L-tyrosine catabolism. The three late enzymes of the pathway, homogentisate oxygenase, maleylacetoacetate isomerase and fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase, are induced by L-tyrosine, but the degree of induction is much lower in the ATCC 14035 strain. Thus, the distal part of the pathway becomes the rate-limiting steps in the L-tyrosine catabolism, explaining homogentisate accumulation and pyomelanogenesis in this strain. It is proposed that V. cholerae might be a useful prokaryotic model to show that alkaptonuria and other diseases related to L-tyrosine metabolism could occur in animals even when no particular enzyme involved in that pathway is lacking.
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Authors | A Sanchez-Amat, C Ruzafa, F Solano |
Journal | Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology
(Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol)
Vol. 119
Issue 3
Pg. 557-62
(Mar 1998)
ISSN: 1096-4959 [Print] England |
PMID | 9734339
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Tyrosine
- Oxygenases
- Dioxygenases
- Homogentisate 1,2-Dioxygenase
- Hydrolases
- fumarylacetoacetase
- cis-trans-Isomerases
- maleylacetoacetate isomerase
- Homogentisic Acid
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Topics |
- Dioxygenases
- Enzyme Induction
- Homogentisate 1,2-Dioxygenase
- Homogentisic Acid
(metabolism)
- Hydrolases
(biosynthesis, metabolism)
- Kinetics
- Models, Biological
- Oxygenases
(biosynthesis, metabolism)
- Serotyping
- Tyrosine
(metabolism)
- Vibrio cholerae
(classification, growth & development, metabolism)
- cis-trans-Isomerases
(biosynthesis, metabolism)
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