Synthesis of Pyridoxine by a Pyridoxal Auxotroph of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Dempsey, Walter B. (University of Florida, Gainesville). Synthesis of pyridoxine by a pyridoxal auxotroph of Escherichia coli . J. Bacteriol. 92: 333–337. 1966.—A pyridoxal auxotroph of Escherichia coli B produced pyridoxol and pyridoxol 5′-phosphate during starvation for pyridoxal. The identification of these compounds was made both by bioassay and by ion-exchange chromatography. Pyridoxol 5′-phosphate oxidase activity was absent in extracts of the auxotroph. The rate of synthesis of total pyridoxine by a pyridoxal-starved culture of this auxotroph was 6.0 × 10 −6 moles per mg per hr. Cellular content of pyridoxine was constant at 4.0 × 10 −10 moles/mg.