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. 1976 Oct;128(1):182–191. doi: 10.1128/jb.128.1.182-191.1976

Metabolism of DL-(+/-)-phenylalanine by Aspergillus niger.

G Kishore, M Sugumaran, C S Vaidyanathan
PMCID: PMC232842  PMID: 10273

Abstract

A fungus capable of degrading DL-phenylalanine was isolated from the soil and identified as Aspergillus niger. It was found to metabolize DL-phenylalanine by a new pathway involving 4-hydroxymandelic acid. D-Amino acid oxidase and L-phenylalanine: 2-oxoglutaric acid aminotransferase initiated the degradation of D- and L-phenylalanine, respectively. Both phenylpyruvate oxidase and phenylpyruvate decarboxylase activities could be demonstrated in the cell-free system. Phenylacetate hydroxylase, which required reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, converted phenylacetic acid to 2- and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. Although 4-hydroxyphenylacetate was converted to 4-hydroxymandelate, 2-hydroxyphenylacetate was not utilized until the onset of sporulation. During sporulation, it was converted rapidly into homogentisate and oxidized to ring-cleaved products. 4-Hydroxymandelate was degraded to protocatechuate via 4-hydroxybenzoylformate, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxybenzoate.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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