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N-Acetyltaurine dissimilated via taurine by Delftia acidovorans NAT

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Abstract

The naturally occurring sulfonate N-acetyltaurine was synthesized chemically and its identity was confirmed. Aerobic enrichment cultures for bacteria able to utilize N-acetyltaurine as sole source of fixed nitrogen or as sole source of carbon were successful. One representative isolate, strain NAT, which was identified as a strain of Delftia acidovorans, grew with N-acetyltaurine as carbon source and excreted stoichiometric amounts of sulfate and ammonium. Inducible enzyme activities were measured in crude extracts of this organism to elucidate the degradative pathway. Cleavage of N-acetyltaurine by a highly active amidase yielded acetate and taurine. The latter was oxidatively deaminated by taurine dehydrogenase to ammonium and sulfoacetaldehyde. This key intermediate of sulfonate catabolism was desulfonated by the known reaction of sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase to sulfite and acetyl phosphate, which was further degraded to enter central metabolism. A degradative pathway including transport functions is proposed.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by funds from the University of Konstanz.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Biologie der Universität Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany

    Jutta Mayer, Karin Denger, Theo H. M. Smits & Alasdair M. Cook

  2. Fachbereich Chemie der Universität Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany

    Jutta Mayer & Ulrich Groth

  3. Institut für Technische Biochemie, Universität des Saarlandes, PO Box 151150, 66041, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Klaus Hollemeyer

Authors
  1. Jutta Mayer
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  2. Karin Denger
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  3. Theo H. M. Smits
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  4. Klaus Hollemeyer
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  5. Ulrich Groth
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  6. Alasdair M. Cook
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Correspondence to Alasdair M. Cook.

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Mayer, J., Denger, K., Smits, T.H.M. et al. N-Acetyltaurine dissimilated via taurine by Delftia acidovorans NAT. Arch Microbiol 186, 61–67 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-006-0123-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-006-0123-7

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