Serine Synthesis by Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Abstract

Summary

Leuconostoc mesenteroides (ATCC 8042) required a member of the folic acid group of compounds for growth in the absence of serine. p-Aminobenzoic acid, or more efficiently, 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid and tetrahydrofolic acid, met this requirement. With washed cell suspensions, serine synthesis was followed by incorporation of C¹⁴-labeled formate into serine. Over a relatively short incubation period p-aminobenzoic acid had little effect, while the reduced derivatives of folic acid effectively catalyzed the synthesis of serine.