The degradation of L-histidine in the rat. The formation of imidazolylpyruvate, imidazolyl-lactate and imidazolylpropionate.

1. Soluble and mitochondrial forms of histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase were separated from rat liver preparations by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. 2. These enzymes were characterized with respect to substrate specificity, substrate affinity, pH optimum, stability and molecular weight by chromatography on Sephadex G-200. 3. Each enzyme has a relatively broad specificity showing significant activity towards l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine and catalysing transamination with a number of monocarboxylic 2-oxo acids. 2-Oxoglutarate is not a substrate for either enzyme. 4. The molecular weights of the two enzymes, by chromatography on Sephadex G-200, are in the range 130000-150000. 5. The formation in vitro of imidazolyl-lactate from imidazolylpyruvate and NADH was demonstrated by using liver preparations. 6. From a study of imidazolyl-lactate-NAD(+) oxidoreductase activity after electrophoresis of liver preparations on polyacrylamide gel, and from an examination of the activity of l-lactate-NAD(+) oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.27) towards imidazolylpyruvate, it is concluded that this latter enzyme is responsible for the formation of imidazolyl-lactate in the liver. 7. Preparations of bacteria obtained from rat faeces form imidazolylpropionate from l-histidine and urocanate without further subculture. The amount of imidazolylpropionate formed is increased under anaerobic conditions and more so in an atmosphere of H(2). It is suggested that the gut flora of the rat contribute largely, if not exclusively, to the formation of imidazolylpropionate normally found in the urine.