Biosynthesis of peptides containing  -aminoadipic acid and cysteine in extracts of a Cephalosporium sp.
1. Three intracellular peptides found in small amount in a Cephalosporium sp. were rapidly labelled when dl-[(14)C]valine was added to a shaken suspension of the organism. More (14)C was incorporated into peptide P3, delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipyl)-l-cysteinyl-d-valine, than into peptide P2 (containing alpha-aminoadipic acid, cysteine, valine and glycine) or peptide P1 (containing beta-hydroxyvaline in place of the valine in peptide P2). 2. Peptides P3 and P2, but not peptide P1 were formed in a broken-cell system from the Cephalosporium sp. in the presence of delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipyl)-l-cysteine and dl-[(14)C]valine. No synthesis was observed in the presence of delta-(d-alpha-aminoadipyl)-l-cysteine or of dl-alpha-amino[(14)C]adipic acid and l-cysteinyl-l-valine or l-cysteinyl-d-valine. 3. The biosynthesis of these peptides was catalysed by the particulate fraction of the broken-cell system, whereas that of glutathione was catalysed by the supernatant fraction. 4. These results are discussed in relation to penicillin N and cephalosporin C biosynthesis.
D000164:Acremonium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D014633:Valine / Q000378:metabolism; D014732:Vibration
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D010455:Peptides; D014633:Valine; D003545:Cysteine; D005998:Glycine