Lysine catabolism to α-aminoadipic acid in Anolis carolinensis

Abstract

1. 1. Tissues of Anolis carolinensis were analyzed for free amino acids after injection of l-lysine, d-lysine, l-pipecolate, α-N- acetyl- l-lysine , ϵ-N- acetyl- l-lysine , α-ketoglutarate or isoniazid. 2. 2. l-lysine produced pipecolate in all tissues but only kidney converted injected pipecolate to α-aminoadipate in appreciable yield. 3. 3. ul-[ 14C] l-lysine labelled glutamate, α-aminoadipate, pipecolate, ϵ- N-acetyl-lysine and several unidentified compounds in liver and kidney. 4. 4. Alpha-ketoglutarate and isoniazid increased production of pipecolate and α-aminoadipate from l-lysine in liver, but not other tissues. 5. 5. No production of saccharopine was detected in any of these experiments. 6. 6. Catabolism of l-lysine to α-aminoadipate probably proceeds via pipecolate in the kidney. The reactions in the liver are uncertain but apparently do not utilize pipecolate, saccharopine, α- or ϵ- N-acetyl-lysine as major intermediates.