Microbial metabolism of amino alcohols. 1-Aminopropan-2-ol and ethanolamine metabolism via propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde in a species of Pseudomonas

1. Growth and manometric experiments showed that a Pseudomonas sp. P6 (N.C.I.B. 10431), formerly known as Achromobacter sp. P6, was capable of growth on both stereoisomers of 1-aminopropan-2-ol, and supported the hypothesis that assimilation involved metabolism to propionaldehyde, propionate and possibly 2-hydroxyglutarate. A number of alternative intermediary metabolites were ruled out. 2. Accumulation of propionaldehyde from 1-aminopropan-2-ol by intact cells occurred only during active growth, was transitory and was accompanied by morphological changes in the pseudomonad. 3. Enzymic and radioactive tracer evidence showed that 1-aminopropan-2-ol O-phosphate was the intermediate between amino alcohol and aldehyde. The operation of an inducibly formed ATP-amino alcohol phosphotransferase was established by measuring substrate disappearance, ADP formation and amino alcohol O-phosphate formation. This novel kinase had two activity peaks at about pH7 and 9. It acted on both l- and d-isomers of 1-aminopropan-2-ol, and also on l-threonine and ethanolamine, but had only low activity towards choline. The enzyme was partially purified by ion-exchange chromatography. 4. An amino alcohol O-phosphate phospho-lyase (deaminating) produced propionaldehyde from dl- and d-1-aminopropan-2-ol O-phosphate, and also formed acetaldehyde less rapidly from ethanolamine O-phosphate. It had optimum activity at about pH8 in Tris-HCl buffers. The enzyme was partially purified and evidence was obtained that a single enzyme was responsible for both activities. Apparent K(m) values for the substrates were determined. Activity was inhibited by dl-threonine O-phosphate, dl-serine O-phosphate, choline O-phosphate and P(i). Enzyme formation was induced by growth with either amino alcohol substrate. 5. Radioactive tracer experiments with dl-1-amino[3-(14)C]propan-2-ol confirmed the operation of the amino alcohol kinase and demonstrated coupling with the phospho-lyase enzyme in vitro to produce [(14)C]-propionaldehyde. 6. An aldehyde dehydrogenase, found in extracts of the pseudomonad after growth on 1-aminopropan-2-ol, was characterized and concluded to be responsible for propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde oxidation. The enzyme was inactive with methylglyoxal. 7. Propionate and acetate were concluded to be metabolized via propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA, and studies were made of a CoA ester synthase found in extracts. 8. Studies of a strain of Pseudomonas putida N.C.I.B. 10558 suggested that 1-aminopropan-2-ols were metabolized via their O-phosphates, propionaldehyde and propionate. Amino alcohol kinase activity was detected and extracts contained a phospho-lyase showing higher activity with the 1-aminopropan-2-ol O-phosphate than with ethanolamine O-phosphate.

Impact on hospital practice of liberalizing abortions and female sterilizations

The number of therapeutic abortions performed at the Vancouver General Hospital in 1969 was double the average number for the previous four years and in 1970 the total reached 1465. The more liberal attitude towards abortion has resulted in a decided reduction in the number of children available for adoption in the community. This policy has required a streamlining of the duties of the Therapeutic Abortion Committee and an alteration in the pattern of bed and operating-room utilization. By far the greatest number of abortions were performed on psychiatric-social grounds. The complication rate of 17% was influenced chiefly by the advanced duration of the gestation in a high proportion of cases. Gynecologists and hospitals must be prepared to assume their altered role in providing abortion and sterilization in today's society.

Microbial metabolism of amino ketones. L-1-aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenase and L-threonine dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli

1. A wide range of intermediary metabolites and substrate analogues have no effect on the oxidation of dl-1-aminopropan-2-ol to aminoacetone by washed-cell suspensions of Escherichia coli. Only dl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylamine, dl-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol, dl-serine and l-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-aminoethanol act as inhibitors. 2. Dialysed cell-free extracts of E. coli exhibit an NAD(+)-dependent dl-1-aminopropan-2-ol-dehydrogenase activity of approx. 8mmumoles of aminoacetone formed/mg. of protein/min. at the pH optimum of approx. 10. The K(m) values for the coenzyme and dl-amino alcohol are approx. 0.4 and 10.0mm respectively. A smaller peak of activity occurs at pH7.0-7.2, the K(m) for NAD(+) at pH7 being approx. 0.05mm. 3. Enzyme activity in cell-free extracts is inhibited by dl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylamine, dl-1-aminopropane-2,3-diol and dl-serine. dl-Phenylserine and dl-1-aminobutan-2-ol are oxidized to compounds reacting as amino ketones. 4. In fresh cell-free extracts l(+)-1-aminopropan-2-ol preparations are oxidized more rapidly than racemic or laevo-rotatory material, the d(-)-enantiomorph appearing to act as a competitive inhibitor. The K(m) for l(+)-1-aminopropan-2-ol appears to be approx. 1.5mm when highly resolved substrate preparations are used, either in the free base form or as the l(+)-tartrate salt. 5. l(+)-1-Aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenase is a labile enzyme, and in appropriately treated extracts activity towards the d-enantiomorph is detectable and relatively higher than that towards the l-enantiomorph. 6. Optimum activity of l-threonine-dehydrogenase in cell-free extracts is exhibited at pH9.6 in the presence of NAD(+). The K(m) values for coenzyme and amino acid substrate are approx. 0.08 and 5.0mm respectively. This enzyme is distinct from 1-aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenases on the basis of kinetic evidence, and the separation of activities by gel filtration. 7. Both l-threonine and dl-1-aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenases are markedly inhibited by 8-hydroxyquinoline and p-chloromercuribenzoate, but only slightly by other chelating and thiol reagents. 8. E. coli is incapable of growth on simple synthetic media, containing a variety of carbon sources, when dl-1-aminopropan-2-ol is supplied as the sole source of nitrogen. It appears unlikely that the micro-organism can deaminate aminoacetone. 9. The metabolic roles of l-threonine dehydrogenase, aminoacetone and 1-aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenases are discussed.