Studies on the formation of uricase by Streptomyces. VII. Control of the formation of uricase in Streptomyces sp. by nitrogen and cabon sources.

Abstract

The control of uricase formation in a strain of Streptomyces was studied under a variety of nutritional conditions. Enzyme formation was inhibited in growing cells and was freed from inhibition in resting cells under conditions of either nitrogen or carbon limitation. The inhibition required the presence of both nitrogen and carbon sources. Glutamine, asparagine, gluramic acid and aspartic acid as nitrogen sources and glucose and glycerol as carbon sources were found to bring about the most intensive effect among the nutrients examined. Other, nitrogenous compounds, such as alanine, serine, threomne, histidine and ammonium, also caused inhibition, but longer incubation times were necessary for the inhibition. The effects of glutamine and asparagine were identical with those of glutamic acid and aspartic acid in the presence of glucose. In the absence of the sugar, however, the amines rather stimulated enzyme formation, whereas the corresponding amino acids showed no effect. Activities of glutamate dehydro...