The Action of Some Heavy Metals upon the Production of Catalase in Aspergilli

Abstract

To the culture solution, which was purified by the adsorption procedure, treating the solution with Ca-phosphate, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were added and the action of these heavy metals on the catalase activity (the oxygen production per weight unit of mycelium) was examined in Aspergillus oryzae and some other Aspergilli. If Fe was increased in concentration, the catalase activity was much accelarated, while Zn, Cu and Mn were favorable for this activity rather in reduced concentration. The action of Mn and sometimes of Cu was rather indirect and due to the inhibition of the spherical cell formation and the acceleration of the conidial production, which generally counteracts the catalase activity. If Mn was eliminated, but such a morphological influence of this metal did not appear, for instance by increase of Fe concentration, the catalase activity was not especially diminished. The high concentration of hydrogen ion of the culture solution diminished the catalase activity. Addition of the heavy metals to the enzyme preparation in such low concentrations as used in the culture solution, had no direct influence on its activity.