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. 1974 Apr;27(4):688–694. doi: 10.1128/am.27.4.688-694.1974

Enzymatic Production of Urocanic Acid by Achromobacter liquidum

Takeji Shibatani 1, Noriyuki Nishimura 1, Koichi Nabe 1, Toshio Kakimoto 1, Ichiro Chibata 1
PMCID: PMC380118  PMID: 4151117

Abstract

To develop an efficient method for the production of urocanic acid, optimal conditions for the production of microbial L-histidine ammonia lyase and for the conversion of L-histidine to urocanic acid by this enzyme were studied. A number of microorganisms were screened to test their ability to form and accumulate urocanic acid from L-histidine. Achromobacter liquidum was selected as the best organism. With this organism, enzyme activity as high as 2.0 units/ml could be produced by a shaking culture at 30 C in a medium containing glucose, urea, potassium phosphate, L-histidine, yeast extract, peptone, and inorganic salts. Appropriate addition of a surface-active agent to the reaction mixture shortened the time required for the conversion. A large amount of L-histidine was converted stoichiometrically to urocanic acid in 48 h at 40 C. Accumulated urocanic acid was readily isolated in pure form by ordinary procedures with isoelectric precipitation. Yields of isolated urocanic acid of over 92% from L-histidine were easily attainable. When the culture of Achromobacter liquidum was added to DL-histidine, D-histidine and urocanic acid were simultaneously obtained in high yields.

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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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