Studies on bacterial phosphatases

Abstract

As an extension of previous work the phosphatase systems of Aer. aerogenes, Alc. faecalis, and 2 strains of Bac. subtilis (Marburg and Michigan) were studied. Activity-pH curves on various substrates and the effects of Mg, phosphate and other ions on the rate of hydrolysis were detd. The significance of the observations is discussed in relation to the specificity of phosphatases, and to the difference between the 2 strains of B. subtilis. Alc. faecalis contains an active phosphatase, though it lacks a glycolytic system.