Tracer studies on the biosynthesis of amino acids from lactate by Peptostreptococcus elsdenii

Peptostreptococcus elsdenii, a strict anaerobe from the rumen, was grown on a medium containing yeast extract and 1-(14)C]- or 2-(14)C]-lactate. Radioisotope from lactate was found in all cell fractions, but mainly in the protein. The label in the protein fraction was largely confined to a few amino acids: alanine, serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and diaminopimelic acid. The alanine, serine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid were separated, purified and degraded to establish the distribution of (14)C from lactate within the amino acid molecules. The labelling patterns in alanine and serine suggested their formation from lactate without cleavage of the carbon chain. The pattern in aspartic acid suggested formation by condensation of a C(3) unit derived directly from lactate with a C(1) unit, probably carbon dioxide. The distribution in glutamic acid was consistent with two possible pathways of formation: (a) by the reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle leading from oxaloacetate to 2-oxoglutarate, followed by transamination; (b) by a pathway involving the reaction sequence 2 acetyl-CoA-->crotonyl-CoA-->glutaconate-->glutamate.