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Creatinine and N-methylhydantoin degradation in two newly isolated Clostridium species

Abstract

With N-methylhydantoin (NMH) as the main organic substrate, two strictly anaerobic spore forming Gram-positive bacterial strains were isolated from sewage sludge. These strains, named Clostridium sp. FS23 and Clostridium sp. FS41, totally degraded NMH, via N-carbamoylsarcosine (CS) and sarcosine as intermediates. Strain FS23 grew also with creatinine, which was converted to NMH by creatinine iminohydrolase (EC 3.5.4.21). This enzyme was formed at high rates with all substrates tested. Cytosine and 5-fluorocytosine were not utilized as substrates by creatinine iminohydrolase preparations purified to a homogeneity of 98%. NMH amidohydrolase (NMHase) and N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase (CSHase) turned out to be inducible in both srains. Other than in aerobic organisms, NMHase from these two isolates did not require ATP for enzymatic activity. SH-group protecting agents were not necessary for stability.

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Abbreviations

CS:

N-carbamoylsarcosine

CSHase:

N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase

NMH:

N-methylhydantion

NMHase:

N-methylhydantoin amidohydrolase

PAP:

4-aminophenazone

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Hermann, M., Knerr, HJ., Mai, N. et al. Creatinine and N-methylhydantoin degradation in two newly isolated Clostridium species. Arch. Microbiol. 157, 395–401 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249094

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249094

Key words

  • Creatinine
  • N-methylhydantoin
  • Creatinine iminohydrolase
  • N-methylhydantoin amidohydrolase
  • N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase
  • Clostridium