Asparaginase and glutaminase activities of micro-organisms.

Abstract

Summary: l-Asparaginase and l-glutaminase activities were detected in many microorganisms and the distribution of these activities was found to be related to the classification of micro-organisms. Among 464 bacteria, the activities occurred in many Gram-negative bacteria and in a few Gram-positive bacteria. Most members of the family Enterobacteri-aceae possessed l-asparaginase. l-Asparaginase and l-glutaminase occurred together in a large proportion of pseudomonads. Among Gram-positive bacteria many strains of Bacillus pumilus showed strong l-asparaginase activity. Amidase activities were also observed in several strains in other families. l-Asparaginase activity was not detected in culture filtrates of 261 strains of species of the genera Streptomyces and Nocardia, but l-asparaginase and l-glutaminase were detected when these organisms were sonicated. The amidase activities in culture filtrates of 4158 fungal strains were tested. All the strains of Fusarium species formed l-asparaginase. Organisms of the genera Hypomyces and Nectria, which are regarded as the perfect stage of the genus Fusarium, also formed l-asparaginase. Several Penicillium species formed l-asparaginase. Two organisms of the family Moniliaceae formed l-glutaminase together with l-asparaginase, and a fewascomycetous fungi formed l-asparaginase or l-glutaminase. Among 1326 yeasts, l-asparaginase or l-glutaminase occurred frequently in certain serological groups of yeasts: VI (Hansenula) group, Cryptococcus group and Rhodotorula group. Many strains of Sporobolomyces species also showed l-asparaginase activity. Several strains of Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula group possessed l-glutaminase and l-asparaginase. l-Glutaminase alone was formed in many strains of Candida scottii and Cryptococcus albidus, both of which are related to Basidiomycetes.