Metabolism of mercapturic acid-pathway metabolites of 2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide (propachlor) by gastrointestinal bacteria.

1. Mercapturic acid pathway metabolites of propachlor, labelled with 14C, were incubated with pig caecal contents, small and large intestinal contents, and pure cultures of gastrointestinal bacteria. 2. The glutathione, cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, and the S-oxide of the N-acetylcysteine conjugates of propachlor (2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide) were each metabolized by mixed pig caecal micro-organisms to 2-mercapto-N-isopropylacetanilide. 3. The extent of formation of 2-mercapto-N-isopropylacetanilide by mixed pig caecal micro-organisms from mercapturic acid-pathway metabolites of 14C-propachlor was as follows: glutathione (43.4%), cysteine (32.6%), N-acetylcysteine (5.2%), and the S-oxide of the N-acetylcysteine conjugate of propachlor (6.1%). The S-oxide of the N-acetylcysteine conjugate of propachlor was converted by the mixed pig caecal micro-organisms to N-acetylcysteine and cysteine conjugates of propachlor. 4. Small intestinal contents metabolized the glutathione conjugate of propachlor to the cysteine conjugate; little C-S lyase activity was present in the small intestinal contents. 5. The cysteine conjugate of propachlor was metabolized to 2-mercapto-N-isopropylacetanilide by Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteroides vulgatus, Megasphaera elsdenii and Eubacterium aerofaciens.