Formation of O-ethylhomoserine by bacteria.

Resting cells of Corynebacterium sp. E17 formed O-ethylhomoserine from ethyl alcohol for a few hours. Addition of l-homoserine greatly enhanced its formation. Thus, the formation of O-ethylhomoserine from ethyl alcohol by 27 bacteria, 6 yeasts, and 4 fungi was investigated by using growing cultures and resting cells in the presence of l-homoserine. The O-ethylhomoserine formed in the culture supernatant fluids or supernatant fluids of the reaction mixtures was identified by paper chromatography. Many organisms which were incapable of forming O-ethylhomoserine with growing cultures formed it with resting cells. The formation of O-ethylhomoserine appears to be restricted to strains of Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Streptomyces.