Abstract
A study was made of the biosynthesis by Anabaena flos-aquae of the tropane-related alkaloid anatoxin- a. Evidence is presented that the toxin arises from ornithine via putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane) and that ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) is involved. An ornithine decarboxylase preparation, with optimal activity at pH 8, was obtained from Anabaena flos-aquae and partially purified by gel-filtration chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. One major and one minor peak of enzymic activity were obtained with Km values of 1.25 and 2.5 mM, respectively. Plasmid DNA (10 Kb; M r 6.5 × 10 16) was detected in the toxic strain of Anabaena flos-aquae but not in a non-toxic strain. DNA from the toxin-producing strain of Anabaena flos-aquae transforms the non-toxic into a toxic strain.
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