Paraffin Oxidation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa I. Induction of Paraffin Oxidation

Abstract

The induction of paraffin oxidation in intact cells of P. aeruginosa was investigated. Oxidation of 14C-heptane by cell-free extracts of adapted cells showed that the activity of whole cells is a reliable reflection of the synthesis of the 1st enzyme in the degradation of n-alkanes. Induction was significantly affected by glucose and could be completely repressed by malate. The amino acids L-proline, L-alanlne, L-arginine and L-tyrosine exhibited a rather low repressor action. Malonate, a nonrepfessive C source, allowed gratuitous enzyme synthesis. A number of compounds which did not sustain growth were found to be suitable substitutes for paraffins as an inducer. Among these were cyclopropane and di-ethoxy me thane. The induction studied under conditions of gratuity with the latter compound as an inducer showed immediate linear kinetics only at saturating inducer concentrations. With n-hexane as the inducer, a lag time was always observed, even when high concentrations were used.