title: Biosynthesis of prodigiosin, a secondary metabolite of Serratia marcescens.
abstract: Prodigiosenes (prodigiosin and prodigiosin-like pigments) are known to be synthesized by only one genus of Eubacteriales and by two genera of Actinomycetales. Biosynthesis by Serratia marcescens occurs over a relatively narrow range of temperatures, although the bacteria grow over a broad range. When cultures of S. marcescens were incubated at 27 C in 1.0% casein hydrolysate, viable count and protein attained maximal values within 24 to 48 h, whereas prodigiosin did not reach a maximum until 96 h. The greatest amount of pigment was synthesized when cultures were in the senescent phase of growth. Suspensions of nonproliferating bacteria incubated at 27 C in only L-alanine also synthesized prodigiosin, although at a slower rate than growing cultures. Kinetics of growth for the wild-type, red S. marcescens and a white mutant were identical when incubated at 27 C, but the wild type produced abundant pigment. These results plus other data obtained from the literature suggest that prodigiosin is a secondary metabolite. The importance of this proposal to understanding the function of prodigiosin in S. marcescens is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D003470:Culture Media; D007700:Kinetics; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009154:Mutation; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011353:Prodigiosin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000032:analysis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D000409:Alanine; D011353:Prodigiosin