Function of the Arginine Oxygenase Pathway in Utilization ofL-Arginine-related Compounds inArthrobacter globiformisandBrevibacterium helvolum

Abstract

Two coryneform bacteria, Arthrobacter globiformis IFO 12137 (ATCC 8010) and Brevibacterium helvolum IFO 12073, which have the arginine oxygenase pathway, could utilize L-ornithine, L-citrulline, and D-arginine. The cells of the bacteria grown on these amino acids contained high levels of guanidinobutyrase and induced levels of the enzymes of the preceding steps of the pathway. 4-Guanidinobutyrate induced guanidinobutyrase but failed to induce the other enzymes, indicating that it was the direct inducer of guanidinobutyrase. These amino acids and L-arginine also induced L-arginine: 2-ketoglutarate aminotransferase. 4-Aminobutyrate was formed on incubation of L-citrulline with L-citrulline-grown cells of A. globiformis in the presence of gabaculine; its amount was about 50% of the L-citrulline degraded. The L-arginine-grown cells produced 4-aminobutyrate and urea from L-arginine in the presence of aminooxyacetate or gabaculine; the amount of 4-aminobutyratewas 80% or more of that of the L-arginine degraded....