Summary
A bacterium utilizing the alkaloid (−)-ephedrine as its sole source of carbon was isolated by an enrichment-culture technique from soil supplemented with (−)-ephedrine hydrochloride. The bacterium was identified asArthrobacter globiformis by morphological and physiological studies.
The following metabolites of (−)-ephedrine degradation were isolated from the culture fluid: methylamine, phenylacetylcarbinol (1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-phenyl-propane), methylbenzoylcarbinol (2-hydroxy-1-oxo-1-phenyl-propane), acetaldehyde, benzoic acid, pyrocatechol, and cis,cis-muconic acid.
A pathway for the bacterial degradation of (−)-ephedrine has been proposed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Auwers, K. v., Ludewig, H., Müller, A. (1936). Ann. Chem.526, 143–172
Axelrod, J. (1953). J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.109, 62–73
Bauer, S., Masler, L., Országh, Š. Mokrý, J., Tomko, J. (1957). Chem. zvesti11, 651–655 (Chem. Abstr.52, 9014h, 1958)
Beckett, A.H., Wilkinson, G.R. (1965). J. Pharm. Pharmacol.17, Suppl., 107S-108S
Belman, S. (1963). Anal. Chim. Acta29, 120–126
Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 7th ed. (1957). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins
Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed. (1974). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins
Bralet, J., Cohen, Y., Valette, G. (1968). Biochem. Pharmacol.17, 2319–2331
Elphimoff-Felkin, I., Verrier, M. (1967). Bull. Soc. Chim.3, 1052–1057
Fedoroňko, M. (1958). Chem. Anal.3, 573–579 (Chem. Abstr.53, 13841b, 1959)
Gibson, D.T. (1968). Science161, 1093–1097
Groeger, D., Schmauder, H.P., Mothes, K. (1966). Z. Allgem. Mikrobiol.6, 275–287
Hasse, K., Schmid, G. (1963). Biochem. Z.337, 69–79
Hildebrandt, G., Klavehn, W. (1930). DRP 548459 (Chem. Abstr.28, 4072 (4), 1934)
Kawai, K., Baba, S., (1975). Chem. Pharm. Bull.23, 289–293
Krampitz, L.O. (1969). Ann. Rev. Biochem.38, 213–240
Manual of Microbiological Methods (1957) by the Soc. Am. Bacteriol. Conn, H.J. (ed.), New York: McGraw-Hill
Matsuda, A., Baba, S., Nagase, Y. (1971). Yakugaku Zasshi91, 542–545 (Chem. Abstr.75, 47075s, 1971)
Mieyal, J.J., Bantle, G., Votaw, R.G., Rosner, I.A., Sable, H.Z. (1971). J. Biol. Chem.246, 5213–5219
Nash, T. (1953). Biochem. J.55, 416–421
Neuberg, C., Ohle, H. (1922). Biochem. Z.128, 610–618
Ottow, J.C.G., Zolg, W. (1974). Can. J. Microbiol.20, 1059–1061
Reiner, A.M. (1971). J. Bacteriol.108, 89–94
Reiner, A.M., Hegeman, G.D. (1971). Biochemistry10, 2530–2536
Schulz, G., Hecker, E. (1973). Z. Naturforsch.28c, 662–674
Smith, R.V., Rosazza, J.P., (1975). Biotechnol. Bioeng.17, 785–814
Stanier, R.Y., Ornston, L.N. (1973). Adv. Microbiol. Physiol. Vol.9, 89–151
Voets, J.P., Vandamme, E.J., Vlerick, C. (1973). Z. Allgem. Mikrobiol.13, 355–366
Yagi, O., Yamada, K. (1969). Agr. Biol. Chem.33, 1587–1593
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
In memory of Professor Dr. Konrad Bernhauer.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klamann, E., Schröppel, E., Blecher, R. et al. Degradation of (−)-ephedrine byArthrobacter globiformis . European J. Appl Microbiol. 2, 257–265 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01278609
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01278609