SYNTHESIS OF SERINE BY COXIELLA BURNETII

Abstract

Myers , W. F. (University of Kansas, Lawrence) and D. Paretsky . Synthesis of serine by Coxiella burnetii . J. Bacteriol. 82: 761–763. 1961.—Enzyme preparations from suspensions of purified Coxiella burnetii are capable of synthesizing serine from formaldehyde and glycine-2-C 14 in the presence of tetrahydrofolic acid. Evidence for the reaction is obtained by isolating and identifying radioactive serine and serine derivatives. The data suggest a role for folic acid in these rickettsiae, and extend the knowledge of host-independent biosynthetic competencies of these highly parasitic microorganisms.