Abstract
The generation of hydrogen peroxide by putrescine or cadaverine was studied using a cell-free extract of Micrococcus luteus from which catalase had been eliminated by immunoprecipitation. About 20 times more hydrogen peroxide was formed by putrescine than by cadaverine. Other substrates such as glucose, amino acids, xanthine and NAD(P)H did not produce hydrogen peroxide. Staining of gels by substrates after electrophoresis of the proteins suggested that putrescine oxidase in M. luteus also oxidizes cadaverine. A high level of putrescine oxidase was produced in cells from the late exponential growth phase. This enzyme level and the growth rate increased appreciably when the cells were grown with putrescine.
