[Occurrence and metabolism of auxin in multicellular algae of the baltic sea : II. On the formation of Indoleacetic acid from tryptophan, with regard to the influence of the marine bacteria].

Non-sterile and sterile algae converted tryptophan to IAA. The main activity of non-sterile algae was due to marine microorganisms. Sterile algae had a low conversion rate.Paper and thin layer chromatography of ether extracts obtained from the incubation solutions or from sterile algae revealed the presence of IAA, indole-3-aldehyde and indole-3-carboxylic acid. Indole-3-pyruvic acid seemed be present too. On the other hand, tryptamine, indole-3-acetonitrile, or indole-3-acetamide never could be detected.Therefore in algae the pathway of the IAA-formation from tryptophan seems to include a transaminase reaction furnishing indole-3-pyruvic acid.