BIOSYNTHESIS OF A TRYPANOCIDE BY CHROMOBACTERIUM-VIOLACEUM

Radio-isotope studies indicated not only that L-tryptophan can serve a s carbon source for synthesis of the trypanocide, violacein by Chromob acterium violaceum (BB-78 strain) but also that isatin and indole 3-ac etic acid are both important metabolic intermediates. Using 3-indolyl [2-C-14] and [1-C-14] acetic acid, it was found that the carboxylic ca rbon was not eliminated and that indole-3-acetic acid was incorporated intact into the pigment structure. N-Ethyl(5-hydroxy-indol-3-yl)-2-in dolylethylamide is also an important metabolic intermediate in the vio lacein biosynthesis. This is the first report of a metabolic scheme fo r violacein synthesis which includes an intermediate other than L-tryp tophan.