CHOLIC-ACID INDUCED N-METHYLHYDANTOIN SYNTHESIS IN MICROBIAL SYSTEM

The degradation of creatinine to glycine via N-methylhydantoin is well established for microbial systems., However, the microbial route to t he formation of creatinine and subsequently N-methylhydantoin from gly cine and arginine in presence of methionine is unprecedented. This wor k presents microbial synthesis of N-methylhydantoin by Alcaligenes rec ti in nutrient medium containing cholic acid. It has been shown that a rginine, glycine and methionine present in the nutrient medium are use d as substrates by the enzyme system produced by the microorganisms fo r the synthesis of the product. The metabolic pathway for the formatio n of the product appears to be the same as is known for its synthesis in the mammalian liver from the three amino acids, The strategic ferme ntation experiments reveal that formation of transmidinase responsible for transfer of the amidine group from arginine to glycine to form gu anidoacetic acid is induced by cholic acid. Interestingly, A. recti is an intestinal microorganism and cholic acid and other bile acids are present in the mammalian liver where creatinine is synthesised. As suc h, it is probable that here also this acid may have the role of en ind ucer in the metabolic formation of creatinine, the precursor of N-meth ylhydantoin.