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Conjugation of tomatine with l(+)‐lactic acid by Nocardia restricta
Author(s) -
Komel R.,
Karlovšek M.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620250707
Subject(s) - chemistry , biochemistry , amethopterin , enzyme , conjugated system , lactic acid , conjugate , bioconversion , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , bacteria , methotrexate , biology , immunology , polymer , mathematical analysis , mathematics , fermentation , genetics
Nocardia restricta conjugates tomatines with l(+)‐lactic acid, which represents a new mode of bioconversion of steroid glycosides. The specifity in cell‐free homogenate was not restricted to α‐tomatine, since δ‐tomatine was transformed to the conjugated metabolite as well. It was shown with inhibitors of protein synthesis that the enzymes responsible for this reaction are constitutive. By using protoplasts and centrifugation it was found that the conjugating activity and the reaction products were bound to the membrane part of the 10,000 × g sediment of the cell‐free homogenate. Possible mechanisms as well as the biological significance of this reaction are discussed.