Structures and function of a tailoring oxidase in complex with a nonribosomal peptide synthetase module.

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are large modular enzymes that synthesize secondary metabolites and natural product therapeutics. Most NRPS biosynthetic pathways include an NRPS and additional proteins that introduce chemical modifications before, during or after assembly-line synthesis. The bacillamide biosynthetic pathway is a common, three-protein system, with a decarboxylase that prepares an NRPS substrate, an NRPS, and an oxidase. Here, the pathway is reconstituted in vitro. The oxidase is shown to perform dehydrogenation of the thiazoline in the peptide intermediate while it is covalently attached to the NRPS, as the penultimate step in bacillamide D synthesis. Structural analysis of the oxidase reveals a dimeric, two-lobed architecture with a remnant RiPP recognition element and a dramatic wrapping loop. The oxidase forms a stable complex with the NRPS and dimerizes it. We visualized co-complexes of the oxidase bound to the elongation module of the NRPS using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. The three active sites (for adenylation, condensation/cyclization, and oxidation) form an elegant arc to facilitate substrate delivery. The structures enabled a proof-of-principle bioengineering experiment in which the BmdC oxidase domain is embedded into the NRPS.

WRKY1-mediated regulation of tryptophan decarboxylase in tryptamine generation for withanamide production in Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha).

KEY MESSAGE: WsWRKY1-mediated transcriptional modulation of Withania somnifera tryptophan decarboxylase gene (WsTDC) helps to regulate fruit-specific tryptamine generation for production of withanamides. Withania somnifera is a highly valued medicinal plant. Recent demonstration of novel indolyl metabolites called withanamides in its fruits (berries) prompted us to investigate its tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), as tryptophan is invariably a precursor for indole moiety. TDC catalyzes conversion of tryptophan into tryptamine, and the catalytic reaction constitutes a committed metabolic step for synthesis of an array of indolyl metabolites. The TDC gene (WsTDC) was cloned from berries of the plant and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized for its catalytic attributes. Catalytic and structural aspects of the enzyme indicated its regulatory/rate-limiting significance in generation of the indolyl metabolites. Novel tissue-wise and developmentally differential abundance of WsTDC transcripts reflected its preeminent role in withanamide biogenesis in the fruits. Transgenic lines overexpressing WsTDC gene showed accumulation of tryptamine at significantly higher levels, while lines silenced for WsTDC exhibited considerably depleted levels of tryptamine. Cloning and sequence analysis of promoter of WsTDC revealed the presence of W-box in it. Follow-up studies on isolation of WsWRKY1 transcription factor and its overexpression in W. somnifera revealed that WsTDC expression was substantially induced by WsWRKY1 resulting in overproduction of tryptamine. The study invokes a key role of TDC in regulating the indolyl secondary metabolites through enabling elevated flux/supply of tryptamine at multiple levels from gene expression to catalytic attributes overall coordinated by WsWRKY1. This is the first biochemical, molecular, structural, physiological and regulatory description of a fruit-functional TDC.

Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the de novo production of psilocybin and related tryptamine derivatives.

Psilocybin is a tryptamine-derived psychoactive alkaloid found mainly in the fungal genus Psilocybe, among others, and is the active ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms". Although its notoriety originates from its psychotropic properties and popular use as a recreational drug, clinical trials have recently recognized psilocybin as a promising candidate for the treatment of various psychological and neurological afflictions. In this work, we demonstrate the de novo biosynthetic production of psilocybin and related tryptamine derivatives in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by expression of a heterologous biosynthesis pathway sourced from Psilocybe cubensis. Additionally, we achieve improved product titers by supplementing the pathway with a novel cytochrome P450 reductase from P. cubensis. Further rational engineering resulted in a final production strain producing 627 ± 140 mg/L of psilocybin and 580 ± 276 mg/L of the dephosphorylated degradation product psilocin in triplicate controlled fed-batch fermentations in minimal synthetic media. Pathway intermediates baeocystin, nor norbaeocystin as well the dephosphorylated baeocystin degradation product norpsilocin were also detected in strains engineered for psilocybin production. We also demonstrate the biosynthetic production of natural tryptamine derivative aeruginascin as well as the production of a new-to-nature tryptamine derivative N-acetyl-4-hydroxytryptamine. These results lay the foundation for the biotechnological production of psilocybin in a controlled environment for pharmaceutical applications, and provide a starting point for the biosynthetic production of other tryptamine derivatives of therapeutic relevance.

Facile in Vitro Biocatalytic Production of Diverse Tryptamines.

Tryptamines are a medicinally important class of small molecules that serve as precursors to more complex, clinically used indole alkaloid natural products. Typically, tryptamine analogues are prepared from indoles through multistep synthetic routes. In the natural world, the desirable tryptamine synthon is produced in a single step by l-tryptophan decarboxylases (TDCs). However, no TDCs are known to combine high activity and substrate promiscuity, which might enable a practical biocatalytic route to tryptamine analogues. We have now identified the TDC from Ruminococcus gnavus as the first highly active and promiscuous member of this enzyme family. RgnTDC performs up to 96 000 turnovers and readily accommodates tryptophan analogues with substituents at the 4, 5, 6, and 7 positions, as well as alternative heterocycles, thus enabling the facile biocatalytic synthesis of >20 tryptamine analogues. We demonstrate the utility of this enzyme in a two-step biocatalytic sequence with an engineered tryptophan synthase to afford an efficient, cost-effective route to tryptamines from commercially available indole starting materials.

Engineering of Escherichia coli for the synthesis of N-hydroxycinnamoyl tryptamine and serotonin.

Plants synthesize various phenol amides. Among them, hydroxycinnamoyl (HC) tryptamines and serotonins exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic activities. We synthesized HC-tryptamines and HC-serotonin from several HCs and either tryptamine or serotonin using Escherichia coli harboring the 4CL (4-coumaroyl CoA ligase) and CaHCTT [hydroxycinnamoyl-coenzyme A:serotonin N-(hydroxycinnamoyl)transferase] genes. E. coli was engineered to synthesize N-cinnamoyl tryptamine from glucose. TDC (tryptophan decarboxylase) and PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) along with 4CL and CaHCTT were introduced into E. coli and the phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway of E. coli was engineered. Using this strategy, approximately 110.6 mg/L of N-cinnamoyl tryptamine was synthesized. By feeding 100 µM serotonin into the E. coli culture, which could induce the synthesis of cinnamic acid or p-coumaric acid, more than 99 µM of N-cinnamoyl serotonin and N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin were synthesized.

Induced accumulation of tyramine, serotonin, and related amines in response to Bipolaris sorokiniana infection in barley.

The inducible metabolites were analyzed in barley leaves inoculated with Bipolaris sorokiniana, the causal agent of spot blotch of barley. HPLC analysis revealed that B. sorokiniana-infected leaves accumulated 4 hydrophilic compounds. They were purified by ODS column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that they were tyramine (1), 3-(2-aminoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (2), serotonin (3), and 5,5'-dihydroxy-2,4'-bitryptamine (4). Among these, 2 and 4 have not been reported as natural products. They showed antifungal activity in an assay of inhibition of B. sorokiniana conidia germination, suggesting that they play a role in the chemical defense of barley as phytoalexins. The accumulation of 1-4 was examined also in the leaves of rice and foxtail millet. Rice leaves accumulated 2, 3, and 4, whereas foxtail millet leaves accumulated 3 and 4 in response to pathogen attack, suggesting the generality of accumulation of 3 and 4 in the Poaceae species.

Production of bioactive tryptamine derivatives by co-culture of marine Streptomyces with Bacillus mycoides.

Tryptamine derivatives such as tryptamine and bacillamides were strong algicidal compounds promising in controlling harmful algae blooms, but their bioactivity and application researches were hindered by extremely low natural production rates. This study found an induced production of algicidal tryptamine derivatives by co-culture of marine Streptomyces with Bacillus mycoides, and optimised the culture method through changing important factors such as medium nutrition content, culture mode and pH value. The final established co-culture method used only 5 g yeast extracts and 5 g glycerol in 1 L 75% sea water, but got a yield of 14.9 mg/L N-acetyltryptamine, 2.8 mg/L N-propanoyltryptamine, 3.0 mg/L bacillamide A, 13.7 mg/L bacillamide B and 9.6 mg/L bacillamide C, which were all undetectable under normal culture conditions.

Anatomical and functional evidence for trace amines as unique modulators of locomotor function in the mammalian spinal cord.

The trace amines (TAs), tryptamine, tyramine, and ß-phenylethylamine, are synthesized from precursor amino acids via aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). We explored their role in the neuromodulation of neonatal rat spinal cord motor circuits. We first showed that the spinal cord contains the substrates for TA biosynthesis (AADC) and for receptor-mediated actions via trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) 1 and 4. We next examined the actions of the TAs on motor activity using the in vitro isolated neonatal rat spinal cord. Tyramine and tryptamine most consistently increased motor activity with prominent direct actions on motoneurons. In the presence of N-methyl-D-aspartate, all applied TAs supported expression of a locomotor-like activity (LLA) that was indistinguishable from that ordinarily observed with serotonin, suggesting that the TAs act on common central pattern generating neurons. The TAs also generated distinctive complex rhythms characterized by episodic bouts of LLA. TA actions on locomotor circuits did not require interaction with descending monoaminergic projections since evoked LLA was maintained following block of all Na(+)-dependent monoamine transporters or the vesicular monoamine transporter. Instead, TA (tryptamine and tyramine) actions depended on intracellular uptake via pentamidine-sensitive Na(+)-independent membrane transporters. Requirement for intracellular transport is consistent with the TAs having much slower LLA onset than serotonin and for activation of intracellular TAARs. To test for endogenous actions following biosynthesis, we increased intracellular amino acid levels with cycloheximide. LLA emerged and included distinctive TA-like episodic bouts. In summary, we provided anatomical and functional evidence of the TAs as an intrinsic spinal monoaminergic modulatory system capable of promoting recruitment of locomotor circuits independent of the descending monoamines. These actions support their known sympathomimetic function.

The role of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in bacillamide C biosynthesis by Bacillus atrophaeus C89.

For biosynthesis of bacillamide C by Bacillus atrophaeus C89 associated with South China sea sponge Dysidea avara, it is hypothesized that decarboxylation from L-tryptophan to tryptamine could be performed before amidation by the downstream aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) to the non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) gene cluster for biosynthesizing bacillamide C. The structural analysis of decarboxylases' known substrates in KEGG database and alignment analysis of amino acid sequence of AADC have suggested that L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine are the potential substrates of AADC. The enzymatic kinetic experiment of the recombinant AADC proved that L-tryptophan is a more reactive substrate of AADC than L-phenylalanine. Meanwhile, the AADC-catalyzed conversion of L-tryptophan into tryptamine was confirmed by means of HPLC and LC/MS. Thus during bacillamide C biosynthesis, the decarboxylation of L-tryptophan to tryptamine is likely conducted first under AADC catalysis, followed by the amidation of tryptamine with the carboxylic product of NRPS gene cluster.

Tryptamine 5-hydroxylase-deficient Sekiguchi rice induces synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptophan and N-acetyltryptamine but decreases melatonin biosynthesis during senescence process of detached leaves.

Melatonin biosynthesis was examined in Sekiguchi mutant rice lacking functional tryptamine 5-hydroxylase (T5H) activity, which is the terminal enzyme for serotonin biosynthesis in rice. During senescence process, the leaves of Sekiguchi mutant rice produced more tryptamine and N-acetyltryptamine compared with the wild-type Asahi leaves. Even though T5H activity is absent, Sekiguchi leaves produce low levels of serotonin derived from 5-hydroxytryptophan, which was found to be synthesized during senescence process. Accordingly, both rice cultivars exhibited similar levels of N-acetylserotonin until 6 days of senescence induction; however, only Asahi leaves continued to accumulate N-acetylserotonin after 6 days. In contrast, a large amount of N-acetyltryptamine was accumulated in Sekiguchi leaves, indicating that tryptamine was efficiently utilized as substrate by the rice arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase enzyme. An increase in N-acetyltryptamine in Sekiguchi had an inhibitory effect on synthesis of melatonin because little melatonin was produced in Sekiguchi leaves at 6 days of senescence induction, even in the presence of equivalent levels of N-acetylserotonin in both cultivars. The exogenous treatment of 0.1 mmN-acetyltryptamine during senescence process completely blocked melatonin synthesis.

Peroxynitrite induced formation of the neurotoxins 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine and DHBT-1: implications for Parkinson's disease and protection by polyphenols.

Mechanisms of nigral cell injury in Parkinson's disease remain unclear, although a combination of increased oxidative stress, the formation of catecholamine-quinones and the subsequent formation of neurotoxic cysteinyl-catecholamine conjugates may contribute. In the present study, peroxynitrite was observed to generate both 2-S- and 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine and a dihydrobenzothiazine species, DHBT-1, following the reaction of dopamine with l-cysteine. The formation of 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine and DHBT-1 in the presence of peroxynitrite induced significant neuronal injury. Pre-treatment of cortical neurons with pelargonidin, quercetin, hesperetin, caffeic acid, the 4'-O-Me derivatives of catechin and epicatechin (0.1-3.0 microM) resulted in concentration dependant protection against 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine-induced neurotoxicity. These data suggest that polyphenols may protect against neuronal injury induced by endogenous neurotoxins relevant to the aetiology of the Parkinson disease.

Constitutively wilted 1, a member of the rice YUCCA gene family, is required for maintaining water homeostasis and an appropriate root to shoot ratio.

Increasing its root to shoot ratio is a plant strategy for restoring water homeostasis in response to the long-term imposition of mild water stress. In addition to its important role in diverse fundamental processes, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is involved in root growth and development. Recent extensive characterizations of the YUCCA gene family in Arabidopsis and rice have elucidated that member's function in a tryptophan-dependent IAA biosynthetic pathway. Through forward- and reverse-genetics screening, we have isolated Tos17 and T-DNA insertional rice mutants in a CONSTITUTIVELY WILTED1 (COW1) gene, which encodes a new member of the YUCCA protein family. Homozygous plants with either a Tos17 or T-DNA-inserted allele of OsCOW1 exhibit phenotypes of rolled leaves, reduced leaf widths, and lower root to shoot ratios. These phenotypes are evident in seedlings as early as 7-10 d after germination, and remain until maturity. When oscow1 seedlings are grown under low-intensity light and high relative humidity, the rolled-leaf phenotype is greatly alleviated. For comparison, in such conditions, the transpiration rate for WT leaves decreases approx. 5- to 10-fold, implying that this mutant trait results from wilting rather than being a morphogenic defect. Furthermore, a lower turgor potential and transpiration rate in their mature leaves indicates that oscow1 plants are water-deficient, due to insufficient water uptake that possibly stems from that diminished root to shoot ratio. Thus, our observations suggest that OsCOW1-mediated IAA biosynthesis plays an important role in maintaining root to shoot ratios and, in turn, affects water homeostasis in rice.

Tryptophan metabolism in the central nervous system: medical implications.

The metabolism of the amino acid L-tryptophan is a highly regulated physiological process leading to the generation of several neuroactive compounds within the central nervous system. These include the aminergic neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), products of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism (including 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid), the neurohormone melatonin, several neuroactive kynuramine metabolites of melatonin, and the trace amine tryptamine. The integral role of central serotonergic systems in the modulation of physiology and behaviour has been well documented since the first description of serotonergic neurons in the brain some 40 years ago. However, while the significance of the peripheral kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism has also been recognised for several decades, it has only recently been appreciated that the synthesis of kynurenines within the central nervous system has important consequences for physiology and behaviour. Altered kynurenine metabolism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related dementia, Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. In this review we discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating the metabolism of tryptophan and consider the medical implications associated with dysregulation of both serotonergic and kynurenine pathways of tryptophan metabolism.

Safety properties and molecular strain typing of lactic acid bacteria from slightly fermented sausages.

AIM: To evaluate the biodiversity of lactobacilli from slightly fermented sausages (chorizo, fuet and salchichon) by molecular typing, while considering their safety aspects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Species-specific PCR, plasmid profiling and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR were used to characterize 250 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from 21 low acid Spanish fermented sausages. Lactobacillus sakei was the predominant species (74%) followed by Lactobacillus curvatus (21.2%) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides (4.8%). By plasmid profiling and RAPD-PCR 144 different strains could be differentiated, 112 belonging to Lact. sakei, 23 to Lact. curvatus and 9 to Leuc. mesenteroides. Ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography was used to detect biogenic amine production. Tyramine and phenylethylamine were produced by 14.4 and 12.4% of the isolates, respectively, all belonging to the species Lact. curvatus. The production of tyramine was stronger than that of phenylethylamine. Partial sequencing of the tyrosine decarboxylase gene from Lact. curvatus was achieved. A specific PCR assay to detect the Lact. curvatus tyramine-producers was designed. The disc diffusion test was used to detect antibiotic resistance among the isolates. Most isolates displayed resistance to vancomycin and gentamicin. Only four strains were resistant to most of the antibiotics tested. None of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus sakei would be the species of choice for further use as starter culture in fermented sausage production. Strain typing and characterization of biogenic amine production together with antibiotic susceptibility testing for the selection of starter cultures could help to increase the quality and safety of the products. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Species-specific PCR, RAPD and plasmid profiling proved to be efficient at typing LAB at species and strain level. Information on biogenic amine production and transferable antibiotic resistance is important in order to avoid selection of strains with undesirable properties as starter cultures.

Screening for endogenous substrates reveals that CYP2D6 is a 5-methoxyindolethylamine O-demethylase.

The objective of this investigation was to screen for potential endogenous substrates for CYP2D6. Using recombinant CYP2D6, together with hepatic microsomes from CYP2D6-transgenic mice, human liver microsomes, and a specific anti-CYP2D6 monoclonal antibody, it was ascertained that CYP2D6 does not significantly metabolize the endogenous phenylethylamines 2-phenylethylamine, octopamine, synephrine, 3-methoxy-p-tyramine, 4-methoxy-m-tyramine, metanephrine, and normetanephrine, nor the indolethylamines tryptamine, serotonin, 6-methoxytryptamine, and melatonin, nor the beta-carbolines harman, norharman and tryptoline. However, the indolethylamines 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MDMT) and pinoline (6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline) showed relatively high affinity for CYP2D6 in a spectral binding assay (K(s) 28 +/- 5, and 0.5 +/- 0.3 microm (mean +/- SEM), respectively) and were O-demethylated only by CYP2D6 in a panel of 15 recombinant common human P450s. Pinoline and 5-MDMT O-demethylase activities were 35- and 11-fold greater in liver microsomes from CYP2D6-humanized mice, respectively, than those in liver microsomes from control mice. Moreover, the increased activities were completely inhibited by an anti-CYP2D6 monoclonal antibody. Kinetic analysis with recombinant CYP2D6 gave K(m) and k(cat) values for 5-MDMT and pinoline O-demethylations of 12 +/- 1 microm and 65 +/- 1 min(-1) and 1.8 +/- 0.3 microm and 26 +/- 1 min(-1), respectively. These two substrates can be added to 5-methoxytryptamine, which we have recently reported to be an endogenous CYP2D6 substrate. CYP2D6 is therefore a relatively highly specific, high-affinity, high-capacity 5-methoxyindolethylamine O-demethylase. Polymorphic cytochrome CYP2D6 may therefore exert an influence on mood and behavior by the O-demethylation of these 5-methoxyindolethylamines found in the brain and pineal gland. These processes may also impact on mental and neurological health. The findings may open new vistas for the determination of CYP2D6 phenotype.

[The biosynthesis of low-molecular-weight nitrogen-containing secondary metabolite-alkaloids by the resident strains of Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium expansum isolated on the board of the Mir space station ]. / Biosintez nizkomolekuliarnykh azotsoderzhashchikh vtorichnykh metabolitov-alkaloidov shtammami-rezidentami gribov vidov Penicillium chrysogenum i Penicillium expansum, vydelennykh na orbital'noi stantsii "Mir".

The analysis of the absorption spectra of the low-molecular-weight nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites--alkaloids--of 4 Penicillium chrysogenum strains and 6 Penicillium expansum strains isolated on board the Mir space station showed that all these strains synthesize metabolites of alkaloid origin (roquefortine, 3,12-dihydroroquefortine, meleagrin, viridicatin, viridicatol, isorugulosuvin, rugulosuvin B, N-acetyl-tryptamine, and a "yellow metabolite" containing the benzoquinone chromophore).

Rapid and simple measurement of serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity by liquid biphasic diffusion assay.

We report here a rapid, simple, and accurate method to assay for serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity. This assay relies on the selective diffusion of radiolabeled acetyltryptamine into a water-immiscible scintillation fluid. Unlike organic solvent extraction, thin-layer chromatography, or high performance liquid chromatography, the separation of acetyltryptamine from acetyl CoA and tryptamine is not required in the method. Moreover, the limit of sensitivity is less than 4 pmol of N-acetyltryptamine formed per sample. Enhancement of NAT activity upon beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation in the rat pineal gland was clearly detected with this method. In addition, the NAT activity measurements obtained with this method agreed quantitatively in the pineal gland and other brain tissues with the conventional organic solvent extraction method. The results suggest that this liquid biphasic diffusion assay is applicable to the detection of NAT activity in tissues and cells.

Effect of added proteinases and level of starter culture on the formation of biogenic amines in raw milk Manchego cheese.

The influence of two proteinases (Bacillus subtilis neutral proteinase and Micrococcus sp. cysteine proteinase) and two starter culture levels (0.1% and 1%) on biogenic amine formation has been studied in raw ewes' milk Manchego cheese. Amino acid decarboxylating micro-organisms were determined on tyrosine enriched selective media. Biogenic amines were analysed by capillary electrophoresis in citrate buffer at pH 3.6. Addition of proteinases and level of starter culture did not influence the population of micro-organisms with amino acid decarboxylating activity, which represented on average 1% of the bacterial population in 30-day-old cheeses. Tyramine and histamine were detected in all batches of cheese from day 30. Concentrations of tyramine and histamine were higher in cheeses made from milk with neutral proteinase (up to 356 and 284 mg kg(-1), respectively, after 90 days) than in cheeses made from milk with cysteine proteinase (up to 269 and 189 mg kg(-1), respectively) or with no proteinase added (up to 305 and 226 mg kg(-1), respectively). Formation of tyramine and histamine was also favoured in cheeses made with 1% starter culture with respect to cheeses made with only 0.1% starter culture, probably due to the higher pH values of the former cheeses. After 90 days of ripening, concentrations of 10-20 mg kg(-1) phenylethylamine were observed in 9 of the 12 batches, and levels < 10 mg kg(-1) tryptamine were only detected in 3 batches, with no significant relationship between the concentration of these amines and proteinase addition or level of starter culture.

[Deodorant effects of champignon extract and repressive effects on production of indole and tryptamine in vivo].

Champignon extract has potent deodorant effects, and its repressive effects on bad smells generated by the decomposition of fishery products are especially marked. Utilizing the amount of ammonical nitrogen, indoleacetic acid and tryptamine generated as the standard criteria, the deodorant effects of champingnon were evaluated. In an in vitro test, chicken liver homogenate was decomposed by incubating at 37 degrees C and with the progress of its decomposition, ammonical nitrogen was generated. Champignon extract was shown to have the ability to repress the generation of ammonical nitrogen. For an in vivo test, an excessive amount of tryptophan was orally administered to domestic rabbits resalting in an increase in blood levels of indoleacetic acid and tryptamine. Champignon extract given concomitantly rapidly reduced blood levels of the two compounds to negligible levels.

[The amine-forming ability of Aeromonas spp]. / Zum Aminbildungsvermögen von Aeromonas spp.

Motile Aeromonas (A.) species are considered international more and more as potential food poisoning organisms. Their ability to produce biogenic amines, products of metabolism, which in case can cause a disease, was only searched insufficiently till now. 50 strains of the species A.hydrophila, A.sobria, A.caviae and the non-motile species A.salmonicida were included in the tests for amine producing potency. Qualitative investigations to the formation of histamine, tryptamine, and tyramine were ensued by the help of thin layer chromatography. Quantitative investigations were only done in respect of the production of tyramine, which had been proved qualitatively in several strains, while histamine and tryptamine were not produced. Concentrations of tyramine with foodhygienic relevance were found out partially.