Non-Heme Catalase Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract

A number of 71 species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were investigated for non-heme and heme catalase activity and their potential to form hydrogen peroxide. Non-heme catalase activity was restricted to strains of Lactobacillus plantarum , Lactobacillus mali and Pediococcus pentosaceus whereas heme catalase activity was present in 21 species belonging to virtually all genera of LAB. P. pentosaceus LTH 416 exhibited maximum non-heme catalase activity when cultured aerobically at the stationary phase. The activity increased after glucose was exhausted. Transfer of cells from glucose minimal medium (0.05%) to media containing 0.2% and 1% glucose, respectively, caused reduction of non-heme catalase activity. The effect of glucose was also seen if it was added to cells growing under static pH conditions (pH 6.5). The non-heme catalase activities of L. plantarum ATCC 14431 and P. pentosaceus LTH 416 were characterized with regard to environmental factors important in sausage fermentation such as pH, temperature, concentration of nitrate or nitrite and water activity. The results permit an estimation of the non-heme catalase activity in the two strains during the fermentation process.