Production of volatile sulfur compounds by various Fusobacterium species

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Abstract
In 12 species of Fusobacterium the following characteristics were studied; the desulfhydration of L-cysteine and L-methionine by resting cell suspensions, the formation of .alpha.-keto acids from L-cysteine, D-cysteine and L-methionine by cell extracts, and the formation of hydrogen sulfide from L-cysteine, D-cysteine and L-cystine by cell extracts separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Multiple forms of L-cysteine desulfhydrase activity were found in most of the species. In some of them also D-cystine desulfhydrase activity was demonstrated. Seven of the species had high L-methionine .gamma.-lyase activity. L-cysteine activity was present in 5 of the species.