THE ENZYMES OF THE TRICARBOXYLIC ACID CYCLE OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Abstract

It was demonstrated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses all the enzymes necessary for the oxidation of pyruvate to CO₂ and water without passing through the conventional intermediates oxalosuccinate and α-ketoglutarate. These intermediates are bypassed by the action of the enzyme isocitratase which splits d-isocitrate to succinate plus glyoxylate. This reaction was shown to be readily reversible. The malic acid dehydrogenase content was low and in addition this enzyme required a high pH for optimum activity. In fresh cell extracts at pH 7.4 its activity was only 10% that of the other enzymes of the cycle. The malic and isocitric dehydrogenases were TPN specific. The organism was also shown to possess all the enzymes necessary for the operation of the conventional tricarboxylic acid cycle.