The formation of serine from glycine and formaldehyde by cell free extracts of Clostridium acidi-urici.
Cells of Clostridium acidi-urici which were grown in a medium containing uric acid were harvested, disrupted by sonication and centrifuged. After centrifugation the supernatant which served as the cell free extract was used to study the synthesis of serine from 2-14C glycine and formaldehyde. Serine was isolated from the reaction mixture by column chromatography. After identification by paper chromatography, serine was degraded carbon by carbon to locate the position of the labelled carbon. Radioactivity was confined almost exclusively to the alpha carbon of serine which was derived from the alpha carbon of glycine. Formaldehyde, therefore, binds at the alpha carbon of glycine to form serine. Conversion of serine to pyruvate was prevented by adding EDTA to the reaction mixture.
D002474:Cell-Free System; D003013:Clostridium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007536:Isomerism; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D011773:Pyruvates; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012694:Serine; D004492:Edetic Acid; D005998:Glycine