ω-Amidase pathway in the degradation of glutamine in Neurospora crassa

Abstract

Evidence for the participation of the glutamine transaminase-ω-amidase pathway in the utilization of glutamine in Neurospora crassa was obtained. Its participation is indicated by (i) the in vitro activities of glutamine transaminase and ω-amidase, (ii) the in vivo accumulation of α-ketoglutaramate when an inhibitor of transamidases is present, and (iii) the inhibition by aminooxyacetic acid and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine of the ammonium excreted in the presence of glutamine by a mutant strain that lacks glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase.