Isolation of lombricine and its enzymic phosphorylation

Abstract

Lombricine has been isolated in good yield from Lumbricus terrestris L. with ion-exchange resins. Lombricine flavianate has been prepared. Transphosphorylation from adenosine triphosphate to lombricine has been achieved with dialysed enzyme preparations from worm homogenates or acetone-dried powders. The addition of Mg++ was necessary for maximum enzyme activity. Of the bases other than lombricine tested (guanidinoethanol phosphate, taurocyamine, arginine, creatine, guanidine, guanidinoethanol and glycocyamine) as phosphate acceptors, only guanidinoethanol phosphate and taurocyamine were active.