Respiratory enzymes in a psychrophilid and a mesophilic strain of Arthrobacter

Abstract

The respiratory activities of a psychrophilic and a mesophilic strain of Arthrobacter has been studied.
Optimal dehydrogenase activity occurs in the psychrophilic strain when incubated at 20-30° and in the mesophilic strain an 30-37° C. Chemical inhibitiors act in a different manner on each strain.

The determination of the catalase activity was made by different methods and it was observed that the maximum activity in the psychrophilic strain occured when it was incubated at 2-20° C and in the mesophilic at 30-37° C.

The activity of DPNH-oxidase is higher in the psychrophilic strain when incubated at 10-20° C and becomes inactive at 50° C. In the mesophilic strain it is maximum at 30° C and becomes inactive at 65° C.

The peroxidase activity is maximum in the psychrophilic strain when incubated at 5-15° and become inactive at 50°. In the mesophilic strain it is maximum at 20-35° and becomes inactive at 70°.