Mutation modifying the serine pathway in methylotrophic bacteria.

Methylotrophic bacteria, Gram-positive, with the serine pathway, were shown to have their growth inhibited by 0.5% glycine. The effects of this amino acid on individual enzyme activities were studied in wild and mutant strains of Micrococcus varians and Bacillus licheniformis. The enzymes studied were glycerate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.29), isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1), serine hydroxymethyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.1) and glycine--oxaloacetate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.35). The last-named enzyme was found to be inhibited, the kinetic constants having been determined for two strain types.