Biosynthesis of N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,4-diaminobutane (spermidine) from L-methionine in Escherichia coli: an investigation by 13C-labelling

Abstract

E. coli converts L-[3,4-¹³C₂]methionine into N-3-aminopropyl)-1,4-diaminobutane labelled at C-3 and C-4 [for numbering see (1)], thus excluding azetidine as an intermediate in the reaction between 1,4-diaminobutane and decarboxylated adenosylmethionine catalysed by aminopopyl transferase.