Distribution of tyrosine phenol lyase in microorganisms

Abstract

The distribution of tyrosine phenol lyase activity in microorganisms was studied with intact cells in a synthetic reaction mixture containing l-serine and phenol or pyrocatechol. This activity was found in various bacteria, most of which belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae; especially to the genera Escherichia, Proteus and Erwinia. Cells of Erwinia herbicola ATCC 21434 were selected as a promising source of enzyme. Intact cells of Erwinia herbicola ATCC 21434 prepared from a broth cultured for 24 hr contained markedly high enzymic activity and catalyzed the synthetic reaction of L-tyrosine or 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (l-dopa) from l-serine and phenol or pyrocatechol in significantly high yields. Results of the isolation and identification of the products showed that the amino acid synthesized by this enzymatic method was identical with l-tyrosine or l-dopa. © 1972, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.