p-hydroxymandelic acid - a key intermediate in the metabolism of DL(+)-phenylalanine by aspergillus niger

The metabolism of phenylalanine by a strain of Aspergillus niger, isolated from the soil by enrichment culture has been studied. Analyses of the culture filtrates and replacement studies with various metabolites have revealed the operation of a degradative pathway involving p-hydroxymandelate as a key intermediate in this organism, p-Hydroxymandelate has been isolated from the cultural filtrates and its identity established by UV, IR and chromatographic techniques. A scheme for the degradation of phenylalanine in this organism has been proposed.