Studies on Amino Acids. XIII

Abstract

Screening experiments for e-lysine acylase activity in microorganisms have been carried out. Namely, a number of bacteria, streptomyces, molds and yeasts were cultured on the medium containing e-acyllysines, and e-lysine acylase activity was estimated by liberated amino acid detected with paper chromatography of the cultural broth. As a result, the occurrence of e-lysine acylase activity was observed in molds, especially in Aspergillus oryzae. In other organisms such as bacteria, streptomyces and yeasts, the activity was scarcely found under the conditions employed by the authors. By the same procedure employing acetylmethionine and e-benzoyl-α-acetyllysine, acylase activity, that is, hydrolytic activity toward α-N-acyl amino acids, of the microorganisms was investigated.