PATHWAY FOR THE DISSIMILATION OF ITACONIC AND MESACONIC ACIDS

Abstract

Brightman, Vernon (The University of Chicago, Chicago), and William R. Martin . Pathway for the dissimilation of itaconic and mesaconic acids. J. Bacteriol. 82: 376–382. 1961.—Studies on the oxidation of itaconic and mesaconic acids by a Pseudomonas sp., adapted to utilize either of these acids as a sole carbon source, have provided evidence for a pathway converting both itaconate and mesaconate to succinate. A metabolic interconversion of itaconate, mesaconate, and citramalate has also been demonstrated by whole cell and cell-free enzyme studies. Succinate derived from methylene-labeled itaconate was found to be labeled in the inside carbon atoms, a fact which indicates that the branched chain compound was converted into a straight chain molecule by a shift of the methylene carbon (C-5) from the side chain of itaconate to a position between C-2 and C-3 in an, as yet, unknown straight chain intermediate prior to its conversion to succinate.