ENZYMOLOGY OF MYCOBACTERIA VI

Abstract

The degradation of agmatine and arcaine by Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. phlei, and a strain closely related to Corynebacterium bovis was studied by measuring the disappearance of guanidine groups and the formation of ammonia. With the help of a sonic oscillator, highly active cell-free prepns. are obtained from M. smegmatis. The agent responsible for these degradations is of enzymic nature, as indicated by its sensitivity to changes in pH, specificity, heat lability, and its inability to penetrate through cellophane membranes. The pH opt. is 11.4 or higher. Specificity studies indicate that the enzyme is different from arginase, arginine desimidase, creatinase, creatininase, and glycocyaminase.