Barbiturate-induced increase of biocatalytic hydroxylation and N-dealkylation of N,N-diethylaniline by whole-cell incubation with Bacillus megaterium

Bacillus megaterium was used in biotransformation studies to test the influence of several barbiturates towards the recently observed N-dealkylation and arylic hydroxylation of N,N-diethylaniline. Certain barbiturates (phenobarbital and amobarbital) induced increased enzyme activity in whole-cell incubations with B. megaterium resulting in an increasing amount of N-deethylated and hydroxylated arylic (ortho- and para-hydroxylation) products, whereas ortho-hydroxylation was slightly favored. Phenobarbital did not show any effects towards hydroxylation activity, but N-dealkylation activity was highly induced. Finally, metyrapone highly reduced hydroxylation and N-dealkylation activity.