STUDIES ON PIGMENTATION OF SERRATIA MARCESCENS I

Spectral Absorption of Prodigiosin in Intact Cells

“…The results indicate that the pigment in whole cells is qualitatively identical with mechanically prepared extracts and with acetone extracts described by Williams et al (1956). Of the 3 absorbing components, the orange one at 475 m,u is very unstable and appears to convert to a form absorbing at 535 m,.…”

“…Corresponding curves are given in figure 2 for the mechanically prepared crude extract measured in standard 1 cm cells without PSL. The region of most interest is above 400 m, where there are 3 absorbing components at about 470, 495, and 535 my as pointed out by Williams et al (1956). They failed to resolve all 3 components at any one hydrogen ion concentration.…”

“…The pigment of Serratia marcescens has usually been studied after its extraction from the cells using acid, alkali, or organic solvents . Williams et al (1956) refer to earlier methods and describe a simple acetone extraction process which they used in studying the spectral absorption of prodigiosin and 4 fractions separated by paper chromatography.…”

I Oxalyl amino acid anhydrides II Pigments of a Serratia marcescens mutant

“…In addition to the well known red "wild, type" many color vari ants have been isolated and described, in the literature ( 11,2). The color mutants may arise spontaneously or as the re sult of mutagenic agents (15,9) and frequently are quite stable, showing no tendency to revert to the parent type (2,15,24).…”

Pigment biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens

“…The parent strain, Serratla marcescens strain Kim a, produces a red pigment identified as prodlglosln. The two mutant strains, obtained by irradiation of strain Nima, are 5. marcescens strain OF, which produces the orange pigment norprodigiosin (35), and S. marcescens strain T .vCF, which pro duces no pigment in pure culture but produces large amounts of red pigment when fed by strain OF (33) . This red pigment, which will be designated fed-white pigment, has also been identified as prodlglosln in this investigation.…”