Methionine synthesis by extracts of Salmonella typhimurium.

1. Following the genetic studies by Smith (1961) and Smith & Childs (1963) with methionine auxotrophs of Salmonella typhimurium, methionine formation from homocysteine has been investigated with cell-free extracts of this organism. 2. As found with Escherichia coli (Woods, Foster & Guest, 1964), methyl groups are formed by an N(5)N(10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. They are then transferred to homocysteine by either a simple N(5)-methyltetrahydropteroyl-triglutamate-homocysteine methyltransferase or alternatively a cobalamin-dependent N(5)-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase. 3. S. typhimurium differs from E. coli in being able to synthesize significant amounts of cobalamin.