Simultaneous biosynthesis of pyocyanine, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, and oxychlororaphine from labelled substrates by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mac 436

Abstract

Pyocyanine, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, and oxychlororaphine are produced simultaneously by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mac 436 in certain media. When 14C-labelled substrates were supplied, the labelled carbon was incorporated into each of the pigments in varying amounts and also into CO2 and cells. Incorporation of labelled carbon from glycerol-1,3-14C and glycerol-2-14C was better than from shikimic-1,6-14C acid, and much better than from glucose-1-14C, -2-14C, or -6-14C, succinic-1,4-14C or -2,3-14C acid, or acetic-1-14C or -2-14C acid. The data suggest that all three pigments are synthesized through the same route although some variations in the results are difficult to explain. The conclusion is that the shikimic acid pathway is the probable route of synthesis.