Role of L-lysine-α-ketoglutarate aminotransferase in catabolism of lysine as a nitrogen source for Rhodotorula glutinis

Abstract

Wild-type and saccharopine dehydrogenaseless mutant strains of Rhodotorula glutinis grew in minimal medium containing lysine as the sole nitrogen source and simultaneously accumulated, in the culture supernatant, large amounts of a product identified as α-aminoadipic-δ-semialdehyde. The saccharopine dehydrogenase and pipecolic acid oxidase levels remained unchanged in wild-type cells grown in the presence of ammonium or lysine as the nitrogen source. Lysine-α-ketoglutarate aminotransferase activity was demonstrated in ammonium-grown cells. This activity was derepressed in cells grown in the presence of lysine as the sole source of nitrogen.