A Cofactor for the Formic Hydrogenlyase Enzyme System.

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Abstract
The formic hydrogenlyase enzyme system of certain bacterial species was activated by oleic acid, thus representing an enzymatic function for a fatty acid. Other fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, stearic, palmitic, and pimelic) stimulated the formic hydrogenlyase system, in bacterial cell suspensions under certain conditions, oleate being the most effective. Hot-water extracts of yeast and liver contained a substance or substances more active than oleic acid, and the activity of the natural materials was increased by hydrolysis at 121[degree] C for 3 hrs. in 0.9 [image] H2SO4. It was suggested that the stimulatory material(s) present in natural substances were derived from a fatty acid precursor, possibly oleic acid. Active dried cell prepns. catalyzing the breakdown of formate to CO2 and H2 were obtained by vacuum drying.