Indolepyruvic acid, from tryptophan

The analogues of serine and tyrosine were prepared from suitably protected hydroxy aldehydes and the tryptophan analogue from indolepyruvic acid. A wide selection of other o -aminophosphonous acids was also prepared from aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes and aliphatic ketones. 

Thus we designed and synthesized a bicyclic pyridoxamine derivative carrying an oriented catalytic side arm (16) [11], Rates for conversion of the ketimine Schiff base into the aldimine, formed with 26 (below) and a-ketovaleric acid, indolepyruvic acid, or pyruvic acid, were enhanced 20-30 times relative to those carried out in the presence of the corresponding pyridoxamine derivatives without the catalytic side arm. With a-ketovaleric acid, 16 underwent transamination to afford D-norvaline with 90% ee. The formation of tryptophan and alanine from indolepyruvic acid and pyruvic acid, respectively, showed a similar preference. A control compound (17), with a propylthio group at the same stereochemical position as the aminothiol side arm in 16, produced a 1.5 1 excess of L-norvaline, in contrast to the large preference for D-amino acids with 16. Therefore, extremely preferential protonation seems to take place on the si face when the catalytic side arm is present as in 16. 

INDOLMYCIN (20) is formed from pyruvate, and two enzymes active in initial stages of Its biosynthesis have been studied. They are a transaminase and aC-methyltransferase. The hypothetical route to indolmycin is by indole pyruvate, 3-methyl-indolepyruvate, indolmycenic acid (reduced alpha oxo group) and finally indolmycin which probably takes its amidine group from an arginine molecule 79. The closely related [pyrrolo (1,4) benzodiazepines] 80>81,82 antitumor antibiotics, anthramycin, tomaymycin and sibiromycin are formed from tryptophan (via the kynurenine pathway ), tyrosine and methionine-derived methyl groups 80.si.sz. 

D-Amino acids vary in availability with the species. For example d-phenylalanine is used by rat, mouse, and man (15, 35, 727, 730, 962), whereas D-tryptophan is used by the rat (53, 54, 759, 895), is partially used by the mouse and pig (139, 867), and is not used by man (7, 29). The utilization of the D-amino acids is probably determined by the relative rates of absorption of the D-amino acid from the intestine, and of conversion of d- to L-amino acid in the liver (288). The conversion of d- to L-phenylalanine is reduced in vitamin-Be deficiency (52), as is to be expected for a transformation involving transamination to phenylpyruvic acid. Phenylpyruvic and indolepyruvic acids, the a-keto acids corresponding to phenylalanine and tryptophan, may also, to an extent varying with the species, satisfy growTh requirements (e.g., 55, 109, 436, 725, 911). 

Anthranilic acid and indole are precursors of tryptophan in numerous microorganisms and fungi (e.g., 5, 263, 264, 602, 741, 783, 785, 816, 854, 855, 876), and it is probable that anthranilic acid is derived, with intermediate steps, from the common precursor, CP of diagram 1. The conversion of anthranilic acid to indole and tryptophan has been shown unambiguously in Neurospora with the use of isotopic techniques (93, 663). There may, however, be other pathways for tryptophan biosynthesis (45, 702). Tryptophan can, for example, be formed by transamination of indolepyruvic acid (e.g., 470, 912), which might be formed other than via anthranilic acid. Thus aromatic-requiring mutants have been found which accumulate unidentified indole compounds (307). 

Tryptophan can be converted to indolepyruvic acid either by oxidative deamination or by transamination (e.g., 739, 912) and the indolepyruvic acid can give rise to indoleacetic acid. The fate of indoleacetic acid formed by the bacterial flora of the mammalian gut is discussed below. Bacterial indolelactic acid (e.g., 757) is presumably derived from indolepyruvic acid, but indolelactic acid excreted by mammals (e.g. 17) may be of true mammalian rather than bacterial origin. Indolepropionic acid can also be formed by bacteria (e.g., 412, 633), but further metabolism in mammals of any indolepropionic acid formed in the gut is still obscure (904). Skatole (3-methylindole) has long been known as a product of bacterial decomposition of protein and is formed from tryptophan not only by the bacterial flora of the gut but also in putrefying secretions, e.g., sputum (756). It may well arise by decarboxylation of indoleacetic acid. 

There is evidence that both these routes can occur. The enzymes converting tryptophan to indoleacetic acid can be obtained in maize embryo juice the tryptophan is thought to arise from the endosperm (964). Indolepyruvic acid is also present in maize endosperm (837, 838), suggesting it to be an intermediate. On the other hand, tryptamine is converted to indoleacetic acid in plants (304, 815) and the amine oxidase responsible has been studied by Kenten and Mann (464). Consideration of the biogenesis of alkaloids, discussed later, suggests that both tryptamine and indoleacetaldehyde are likely to occur in plants. 

As phenolic compounds have been shown to interfere in indole biosynthesis CEef. 3)i the reciprocal, situation, i.e. inhibition of phenolic s thesis by indole compounds (mainly lAA, see belowj, weis considered to occur possibly at the level of PAL. The intermediate products of lAA synthesis, anthranilicoand indolepyruvic acids had a peculiar effect on the HOH formation from the radioactive phenylalanine by first completely repressing the formation and then, after a lag phaae of ca. 90 min, allowing it to proceed at the rate of the control. The common precursor of the aromatic amino acid shikimic acid showed, however, no effect, while the aromatic amino-acids tyrosine and tryptophan caused inhibition. 

The correct structure was established by Homer. Kynurenic acid is formed from L-tryptophan and from indolepyruvic acid, but not from the D-amino acid. ... 

Role of Riboflavin. Riboflavin deficiency has been found to produce abnormaUties in the metabolism of tryptophan (307-311). The deficiency leads to an increased excretion in the urine of kynurenine, anthranilic acid, and kynurenic acid and its conjugates (308, 309). In liver and kidney slices riboflavin deficiency leads to a decrease in indolepyruvic acid accumulation and an increase in the production of kynurenic acid and anthranilic acid from L-kynurenine (310, 311). The deficiency was also found to... 

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