BIOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE MURINE LEPROSY BACILLUS (Part 3)

ENZYME ACTIVITY OF M . LEPRRAE MURIUM UPON ASPARAGIN AND ASPARAGINIC ACID AND ADAPTATION TO SEVERAL ORGANIC ACIDS

Abstract

1) Enzyme activity of M. Leprae murium was examined in asparagin and asparaginic acid and it was found that asparagin is converted to asparaginic acid with freeing of ammonia. It was also shown by studies with the Friedman-Haugen method that transamination takes place between asparaginic acid and a-ketoglutaric acid to give oxalacetic acid.
2) The attempt was made to adapt M. Leprae murium to several organic acids, but results suggestive of production or existence of adaptive enzymes were not obtained.