STUDIES ON THE OXIDATIVE DECOMPOSITION OF UROCANIC ACID BY PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA. II*

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Abstract
Freshacetone-dried cells metabolize urocanic acid non-oxidatively to glutamic acid. Aging or ammonium sulfate fractionation (0.3-0.5 saturation) of the powder enhances the oxidizing activity for urocanic acid O2-uptake with urocanic acid is increased about 100% by the addition of ethylenediamintetra-acetate (EDTA). Further purification by Ca phosphate gel-absorption and phosphate buffer elution yields an enzyme preparation which is not activated by EDTA. The effect of EDTA is counteracted by NaN3,NaF, KCN,As5+, semicarbazide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, malonate and fumarate, while Cu++, Ag+, Hg++ inhibit both O2-uptake and urocanic acid decomposition, regardless of EDTA addition. NH4OH completely suppresses O2-uptake and reduces urocanic acid decomposition by only 50%. Dialysis yields an inactive preparation, which can be reactivated by addition of the extract of acetone powder.

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