METABOLISM OF PHENYLACETIC ACID IN ASPERGILLUS NIGER.

Abstract

Phenylacetate metabolism in Aspergillus niger was studied. An alternate pathway, which is different from the one delineated earlier [Sugumaran, M., Ramanarayanan, M. and Vaidyanathan, C. S., FEBS Letters. 29, 69-72 (1973)) was found to operate for the catabolism of phenylacetate during the sporulation phase of  the organism. Evidence has been presented for the formation of omogentisate,fumarylacetoacetate,maleylacetoacetate, fumarate and acetoacetate as the degradation products of phenylacetate. The activities of the three key enzymes of the pathway, viz., omogentisate dixygenase,maleylacetoacetate isomerase and fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase have been demonstrated. In addition, Phenylacetate hydroxylase activity has also been demonstrated.