Purification and characterization of coclaurine N-methyltransferase from cultured Coptis japonica cells

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM): coclaurine N-methyltransferase (CNMT), which catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to the amino group of the tetrahydrobenzylisoquinoline alkaloid coclaurine. was purified 340-fold from Coptis japonica cells in 1% yield to give an almost homogeneous protein. The purified enzyme, which occurred as a homotetramer with a native Mr of 160 kDa (gel-filtration chromatography) and a subunit Mr of 45 kDa (SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), had an optimum pH of 7.0 and a pI of 4.2. Whereas (R)-coclaurine was the best substrate for enzyme activity, Coptis CNMT had broad substrate specificity and no stereospecificity CNMT methylated norlaudanosoline, 6,7-dimethoxyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline. The enzyme did not require any metal ion. p-Chloromercuribenzoate and iodoacetamide did not inhibit CNMT activity, but the addition of Co2+, Cu2+ or Mn2+ at 5 mM severely inhibited such activity by 75, 47 and 57%, respectively. The substrate-saturation kinetics of CNMT for norreticuline and SAM were of the typical Michaelis-Menten-type with respective Km values of 0.38 and 0.65 mM.     

Evidence for a new extracellular peroxidase. Manganese-inhibited peroxidase from the white-rot fungus Bjerkandera sp. BOS 55.

A novel enzyme activity was detected in the extracellular fluid of Bjerkandera sp. BOS 55. The purified enzyme could oxidize several compounds, such as Phenol red, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), Poly R-478, ABTS and guaiacol, with H2O2 as an electron acceptor. In contrast, veratryl alcohol was not a substrate. This enzyme also had the capacity to oxidize DMP in the absence of H2O2. With some substrates, a strong inhibition of the peroxidative activity by Mn2+ was observed. Phenol red oxidation was inhibited by 84% with only 1 mM of this metal ion. Because DMP oxidation by this enzyme is only slightly inhibited by Mn2+, this substrate should not be used in assays to detect manganese peroxidase. The enzyme is tentatively named 'Manganese-Inhibited Peroxidase'.     

N-acetylglutamate 5-phosphotransferase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Catalytic and regulatory properties.

Some kinetic properties of N-acetylglutamate 5-phosphotransferase (ATP: N-acetyl-L-glutamate 5-phosphotransferase EC 2.7.2.8) purified approx. 2000-fold from Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been studied. The enzyme required Mg2+ for activity. Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+, and Ca2+, in this order, could replace Mg2+ partially. The substrate specificity was narrow: N-carbamoyl-L-glutamate and N-formyl-L-glutamate were phosphorylated, but at a lower rate than N-acetyl-L-glutamate; N-propionyl-L-glutamate was almost inactive as a substrate. dATP, but neither GTP nor ITP, could be used instead of ATP. The enzyme had a broad pH optimum from pH 6.5 to 9. Feedback inhibition by L-arginine was markedly dependent on pH. Above pH 9 no inhibition was observed. L-Citrulline was three times less potent an inhibitor than L-arginine. The enzyme showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, even at low concentration of the second substrate. The apparent Km was 2 mM for N-acetyl-L-glutamate (at 10 mM ATP) and approx. 3 mM for ATP (at 40 mM N-acetyl-L-glutamate). In the presence of L-arginine the rate-concentration curves for N-acetyl-L-glutamate became signoidal, while no cooperativity was detected for ATP. A method was developed allowing the determination of N-acetyl-L-glutamate in the nanomolar range by means of purified enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of a small size protease from Bacillus sp. APR-4

A thermostable extracellular protease of Bacillus sp. APR-4 was purified by size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatographic methods and its properties were studied. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 21,000 U/mg of protein and gave single band on SDS/PAGE with a molecular mass of 16.9 KDa. This protease had an optimal pH of 9 and exhibited its highest activity at 60 degrees C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by EDTA, suggesting the presence of metal residue at the active site. Ca2+ (5 mM) had stabilising effect on the activity of protease, but Cu2+ (5 mM) had inhibitory effect. The enzyme exhibited highest specificity towards casein (1%) and had a Km of 26.3 mg/ml and a Vmax of 47.6 U/mg with casein as a substrate. The stability of this enzyme was evaluated in the presence of some organic solvents and the enzyme was stable in methanol, petroleum ether and ethanol. Detergents (Wheel, Farishta) had stimulatory effect on the activity of this enzyme.     

Purification and properties of polyvinyl alcohol oxidase with broad substrate range obtained from Pseudomonas vesicularis var. povalolyticus PH

Extracellular PVA oxidase produced by Pseudomonas vesicularis var. povalolyticus PH was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by successive column chromatography, and a study made of its characteristics. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 75,000 by gel filtration and 85,000 by SDS-PAGE, suggesting that it consists of monomeric protein. Its isoelectric point was 5.7. The purified enzyme was colourless, and contained one atom of iron per molecule. It exhibited a broad pH activity profile with maximum activity at pH 10.0, and was stable between pH 6.0 and 10.0. The optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 40°C, with stability up to 45°C. The enzyme activity was inhibited strongly by Fe2+, Hg2+ and Sn2+, and weakly by Cu2+, EDTA, thiourea and IAA. The enzyme exhibited activity toward several secondary alcohols, suggesting that it was a secondary alcohol oxidase. In particular, the enzyme exhibited strong activity towards the larger secondary alcohols such as 2-octanol and 4-decanol, and relatively strong activity towards cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol.     

Purification and properties of a peptidase acting on a synthetic substrate for collagenase from monkey kidney.

A peptidase cleaving a synthetic substrate for collagenase, 4-phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl-L-Pro-L-Leu-Gly-L-Pro-D-Arg (designated as PZ-peptide) has been purified extensively (about 5200-fold) from a soluble extract of monkey kidney with a view of carrying out studies on its possible physiological role. The purified PZ-peptidase appeared essentially free of collagenase, nonspecific protease and di- and tri-peptidase activities. The properties of the purified PZ-peptidase resemble very much the granuloma enzyme. It is optimally active around pH 7.0. Its apparent Km value for PZ-peptide is 0.72 mM and V is 10.1 mumol/mg protein/min. It is reversibly inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and HgCl2, whereas iodoactetamide does not affect the enzyme activity. N-Ethylmaleimide inhibited the enzyme partially (50%). Heavy metals like Cu-2+, Cd-2+, Ag+, Pb-2+, Ni-2+, and Zn-2+ completely inhibited the enzyme activity, while the inhibition by Co-2+ was only partial. Fe-2+ did not exert any effect on the activity. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by EDTA and was restored almost to the original value by metal ions like Mn-2+, Mg-2+, Ca-2+ and Ba-2+. The approximate molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 56 000.     

Overexpression and characterization of a lipase from Bacillus subtilis

A novel plasmid, pBSR2, was constructed by incorporating a strong lipase promoter and a terminator into the original pBD64. A mature lipase gene from Bacillus subtilis strain IFFI10210, an existing strain for lipase expression, was cloned into the plasmid pBSR2 and transformed into B. subtilis A.S.1.1655. Thus, an overexpression strain, BSL2, was obtained. The yield of lipase is about 8.6 mg protein/g of wet weight of cell mass and 100-fold higher than that in B. subtilis strain IFFI10210. The recombinant lipase was purified in a three-step procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. Characterizations of the purified enzyme revealed a molecular mass of 24 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, maximum activity at 43 degrees C and pH 8.5 for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl caprylate. The values of Km and Vm were found to be 0.37 mM and 303 micromol mg-1 min-1, respectively. The substrate specificity study showed that p-nitrophenyl caprylate is a preference of the enzyme. The metal ions Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+ can activate the lipase, whereas Fe2+, Cu2+, and Co2+ inhibited it. The activity of the lipase can be increased about 48% by sodium taurocholate at the concentration of 7 mM and inhibited at concentrations over 10 mM.     

Purification and kinetic properties of polynucleotide kinase from rat testes

Polynucleotide kinase (EC 2.7.1.78) has been purified from rat testes, and an approximately 2000-fold purification was obtained. The purified enzyme had an Mr of 38000 +/- 3800. The enzyme phosphorylated micrococcal nuclease-treated calf thymus DNA and (dT)10 while 5'-HO-tRNA was a very poor substrate. A certain degree of specificity towards purine-containing 5'-HO-nucleotides was observed. The polynucleotide kinase had an absolute requirement for a divalent cation. Both Mg2+ and Mn2+ could be used, but 10 mM MgCl2 gave optimal activity. The monovalent cations Na+, K+ and NH4+ all stimulated enzyme activity, and the optimal concentration was 0.1 M. The enzyme was inhibited by inorganic phosphate, pyrophosphate and sulphate. A 50% inhibition was obtained with 20, 0.3 and 2 mM, respectively. At 2 mM MgCl2, 1 mM spermine enhanced the enzyme activity 3-times. The apparent KATP was estimated to be 36 microM and KHO-DNA was found to be 2 microM.     

The bifunctional NadR regulator of Salmonella typhimurium: Location of regions involved with DNA binding, nucleotide transport and intramolecular communication

Abstract Alcohol dehydrogenase ADH2 was purified twice from Candida guilliermondii strain A80-03, by ion exchange column chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650M. The enzyme was a dimer of M _r 98 500. ADH2 had a broad substrate specificity, oxidizing secondary alcohols as well as primary alcohols. The enzyme was sensitive to several inhibitors, such as metal chelators and thiol reagents. Kinetic studies suggested that ADH2 oxidized ethanol by an iso ordered sequential mechanism.     

Cation-stimulated ATPase activity in purified plasma membranes from tobacco hornworm midgut

Purified goblet cell apical membranes from Manduca sexta larval midgut exhibit a specific ATPase activity approx. 20-fold higher than that in the 100 000 X g pellet of a midgut homogenate. The already substantial ATPase activity in this plasma membrane segment is doubled in the presence of 20-50 mM KCl. At ATP concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 mM, the presence of 20 mM KCl leads to a 10-fold increase in the enzyme's affinity for ATP. ATPase activity is greatest at a pH of approx. 8. In addition to ATP, GTP serves as a substrate, but CTP, ADP, AMP and p-nitrophenyl phosphate do not. Either Mg2+ or Mn2+ is required for activity and cannot be replaced by Ca2+ or Zn2+. The ATPase activity of goblet cell apical membranes is inhibited by neither the typical (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitors, ouabain and orthovanadate, nor by the typical mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase inhibitors, azide and oligomycin. Although 1.5 microM DCCD is ineffective, 150 microM DCCD leads to total inhibition of ATPase activity. The ATPase activity of goblet cell apical membranes is stimulated not only by K+, but also, in order of decreasing effectiveness, by Rb+, Li+, Na+ and even Mg2+. Replacement of Cl- by Br-, F- and HCO3- has less influence than variation of the cations. However, replacement of Cl- by NO3- inhibits strongly this ATPase activity. The ATPase activity described above is characteristic of the alkali metal ion pump containing apical membranes of goblet cells and is not enhanced to a similar degree in other purified midgut epithelial cell plasma membrane segments. Its localization, its broad cation specificity and its insensitivity to ouabain all mimic properties of active ion transport by the lepidopteran midgut and suggest this ATPase as a possible key component of the lepidopteran electrogenic alkali metal ion pump.     

从海洋中分离的弧菌QY102褐藻胶裂解酶的纯化和性质研究

从马尾藻(Sargassum)表面分离到一株产生高效胞外褐藻胶裂解酶的海洋弧菌（Vibrio sp.） QY102。以褐藻胶为唯一碳源发酵培养后,发酵液上清通过0.22μm滤膜过滤、DEAESepharose离子交换和Superdex75凝胶过滤得到电泳纯的褐藻胶裂解酶。酶的性质研究表明：其分子量约为28.5kD（SDSPAGE）,反应最适温度为40℃,最适pH为7.1,Ca2+、Mg2+对酶活有促进作用,而Ni2+、Al3+、Zn2+、Ba2+对酶活有抑制作用。该酶的活性明显高于已报道的褐藻胶裂解酶,pH稳定范围广（5～10）,并且对聚甘露糖醛酸的活性高于对聚古罗糖醛酸的活性。     

Crystalline L-histidine ammonia-lyase of Achromobacter liquidum. Crystallization and enzymic properties.

Crystalline L-histidine ammonia-lyase of Achromobacter liquidum was prepared with a 24% recovery of the activity. The specific activity of the pure enzyme (63 mumol of urocanic acid min-1 mg-1) is similar to those so far reported for the enzyme from other sources. The purified enzyme appeared to be homogeneous by analytical disc electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing (pI = 4.95). The molecular weight determined by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration is 200000. The optimum pH is 8.2, and the optimum temperature is 50 degrees C. The enzyme showed strict specificity to L-histidine (Km = 3.6 mM). Several histidine derivatives are not susceptible to the enzyme but do inhibit the enzyme activity competitively; the most effective inhibitors are L-histidine methyl ester (Ki = 3.66 mM) and beta-imidazole lactic acid (Ki = 3.84 mM). L-Histidine hydrazide (Ki = 36 mM) and imidazole (Ki = 6 mM) noncompetitively inhibited the enzyme EDTA markedly inhibited enzyme activity and this inhibition were reversed by divalent metal ions such as Mn2+, Co2+ Zn2+, Ni2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+. These results suggest that the presence of divalent metal ions is necessary for the catalytic activity of histidine ammonia-lyase. Sodium borohydride and hydrogen peroxide inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Purification and characterization of NADP-specific alcohol dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus litoralis.

Thermococcus litoralis is a strictly anaerobic archaeon that grows at temperatures up to 98 degrees C by fermenting peptides. Little is known about the primary metabolic pathways of this organism and, in particular, the role of enzymes that are dependent on thermolabile nicotinamide nucleotides. In this paper we show that the cytoplasmic fraction of cell extracts contained NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and NADP-specific alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activities, neither of which utilized NAD as a cofactor. The GDH is composed of identical subunits having an M(r) of 45,000 and had an optimal pH and optimal temperature for glutamate oxidation of 8.0 and > 95 degrees C, respectively. Potassium phosphate (60 mM), KCl (300 mM), and NaCl (300 mM) each stimulated the rate of glutamate oxidation activity between two- and threefold. For glutamate oxidation the apparent Km values at 80 degrees C for glutamate and NADP were 0.22 and 0.029 mM, respectively, and for 2-ketoglutarate reduction the apparent Km values for 2-ketoglutarate, NADPH, and NH4+ were 0.16, 0.14, and 0.63 mM, respectively. This enzyme is the first NADP-specific GDH purified form a hyperthermophilic organism. T. litoralis ADH is a tetrameric protein composed of identical subunits having an M(r) of 48,000; the optimal pH and optimal temperature for ethanol oxidation were 8.8 and 80 degrees C, respectively. In contrast to GDH activity, potassium phosphate (60 mM), KCl (0.1 M), and NaCl (0.3 M) inhibited ADH activity, whereas (NH4)2SO4 (0.1 M) had a slight stimulating effect. This enzyme exhibited broad substrate specificity for primary alcohols, but secondary alcohols were not oxidized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and characterization of a secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from a pseudomonad.

Growth of Pseudomonas sp. NRRL B3266 in the presence of oleic acid resulted in the induction of two enzymes: oleate hydratase, which produced 10(R)hydroxyoctadecanoate, and hydroxyoctadecanoate dehydrogenase, which catalyzed the oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent production of 10-oxooctadecanoate. This latter enzyme was purified to homogeneity and shown to consist of two polypeptide chains of about 29,000 daltons each. The enzyme had a broad substrate specificity, catalyzing the dehydrogenation of a number of 18-carbon hydroxy fatty acids. The kinetic parameters for various 10- and 12-hydroxy fatty acids were similar (Km ca. 5 micron and Vmax ca. 50 to 200 mumol/min per mg of protein). The enzyme also catalyzed the dehydrogenation of unsubstituted secondary alcohols. The effectiveness of these alcohols as substrates was highly dependent on their hydrophobicity, the Km decreasing from 9 mM for 4-heptanol to 7 micron for 6-dodecanol. Inhibition of the enzyme by primary alcohols also showed a dependence on hydrophobicity, the Ki decreasing from 350 mM for methanol to 90 micron for decanol.     

D194G突变对meso-2,3-丁二醇脱氢酶催化特性的影响

目的:比较来源于Enterobacter aerogenes CICC10293和Bacillus subtilis的meso-2,3-丁二醇脱氢酶(E. a-BDH和D194G B. s-BDH)活性和动力学参数,分析D194氨基酸对BDH催化特性的影响。方法:利用E. coli BL21(DE3)原核表达E. a-BDH和D194G B. s-BDH,经HiTrap Q FF阴离子交换柱和Superdex 75凝胶柱纯化后,用MALDI-TOF MS确定其分子质量;检测NADH/NAD⁺氧化还原的吸光度变化确定BDH活性、辅酶和底物的特异性、最适pH、温度及动力学参数。结果:重组表达E. a-BDH和D194G B. s-BDH是同源四聚体蛋白,基因序列有两处碱基不同(g.27A/T和g.581A/G),其中g.581A/G导致BDH的一处氨基酸发生改变(p.D194G)。D194G B. s-BDH的活性约为E. a-BDH的2.3%,并且丧失了氧化meso-2,3-丁二醇的能力。二者均以乙偶姻/NADH为最适底物,但D194G B. s-BDH的K_m是E. a-BDH的5.63倍。结论:D194G氨基酸突变降低了BDH的活性。     

Purification and characterization of 4-N-trimethylamino-1-butanol dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas sp. 13CM

A new enzyme, NAD+-dependent 4-N-trimethylamino-1-butanol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas sp. 13CM, was purified 526-fold to apparent homogeneity in 5 chromatographic steps. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 45 kDa and appeared to be a monomer enzyme. The isoeletric point was found to be 4.8. The optimum temperature was 50 degrees C, and the optimum pHs for the oxidation and reduction reactions were 9.5 and 6.0 respectively. The purified enzyme was further characterized with respect to substrate specificity, kinetic parameters, and amino acid terminal sequence. The Km values for trimethylamino-1-butanol and NAD+ were 0.54 mM and 0.22 mM respectively. In the reduction reaction, the apparent Km values for trimethylaminobutylaldehyde and NADH were 0.67 mM and 0.04 mM, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by SH reagents, chelating reagents, and heavy metal ions. The N-terminal 12 amino acid residues were sequenced.     

Partial purification and properties of thermostable intracellular amylases from a thermophilic Bacillus sp. AK-2

Intracellular thermostable amylases from a thermophilic Baccilus sp. AK-2 have been isolated and purified. The crude enzyme, having pH optimum at 6.5. and temperature optimum at 68 degrees C was purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Three separable enzyme fractions having starch hydrolyzing property were eluted by lowering the pH from 8.5 to 7.0. Electrophoretic mobility of these fractions showed a single band. Calcium ion up to a concentration of 20 mM had an activating effect on the three fractions. The optimum temperature for the three fractions (FI, FII and FIII) was 65 degrees C and the pH optimum for each was 6.0, 6.5 and 6.0, respectively. The -SH group in the amylase molecule was essential for enzyme activity. Except for Ca2+, Mg2+, Sr2+ and Mn2+ all other metal ions studied inhibited both alpha and beta-amylase activities. EDTA showed dose dependent non-competitive inhibition. Product formation studies proved FI and FIII to be of the alpha-amylase type and FII of the beta-amylase type. The Km for the substrate (starch) in the presence or absence of EDTA was 0.8 X 10(-3) and 1.13 X 10(-3) g/ml for alpha-amylase and beta-amylase, respectively.     

A metalloproteinase from human rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts that digests connective tissue matrix components. Purification and characterization

Human rheumatoid synovial cells in culture stimulated with the conditioned culture medium of rabbit macrophages secrete three distinct latent metalloproteinases. One of them, a proteinase that digests proteoglycan and other connective tissue matrix components, was purified as two active forms after activation with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. The two forms were homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis with Mr = 45,000 and Mr = 28,000, whereas the latent precursor was estimated to have Mr = 51,000 by gel permeation chromatography. Both active enzymes had optimal activity at pH 7.5-7.8 and were inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline but not by inhibitors for cysteine, serine, or aspartic proteinases. Removal of Ca2+ from the enzyme solution resulted in a complete loss of activity that could be fully restored by the addition of 1 mM Ca2+. The activity of the apoenzyme was restored by the addition of 0.5 mM Zn2+, 5 mM Co2+, or 5 mM Mn2+ in the presence of Ca2+ but not by each metal ion alone. The identical digestion patterns of reduced, carboxymethylated protein substrates indicated that both active forms of the enzyme have the same substrate specificity. The enzyme degraded cartilage proteoglycans, type I gelatin, type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin, and removed the NH2-terminal propeptides from chick type I procollagen. This enzyme may play a role in the normal turnover of the connective tissue matrix as well as in the joint destruction of chronic synovitis.     

Assay and properties of N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase from rat liver

A single-vial assay has been developed for N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase, in which [3H]acetate released from 3H-acetyl-labeled substrate is measured in a biphasic liquid scintillation counting system after acidification of the reaction mixture. The deacetylase was partially purified from rat liver, and some of its properties were determined. Chromatography on a calibrated Sepharose CL-6B column indicated a molecular weight of 345,000. The Km for the substrate at pH 8.0 was 0.3 mM. Glucosamine 6-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate inhibited the enzyme, whereas N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate, and glucosamine 1-phosphate were without effect. The effects of several divalent cations were also examined. Under the conditions tested, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Ba2+ had essentially no effect, whereas Mn2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ were inhibitory and Co2+ stimulated activity at low concentrations but inhibited above 5 mM. An increase in the ionic strength of the reaction mixture to 0.3 M decreased the activity by 40%.     

Purification and characterization of a novel 4-methyleneglutamine synthetase from germinated peanut cotyledons (Arachis hypogaea)

A newly detected amide synthetase, designated 4-methyleneglutamine synthetase, has been partially purified from extracts of 5- to 7-day germinated peanut cotyledons (Arachis hypogaea). Purification steps include fractionation with protamine sulfate and ammonium sulfate followed by column chromatography on Bio-Gel and DEAE-cellulose; synthetase purified over 300-fold is obtained. The enzyme has a molecular weight estimated to be approximately 250,000 and a broad pH optimum with maximal activity at approximately pH 7.5. Maximal rates of activity are obtained with NH+4 (Km = 3.7 mM) as the amide donor and the enzyme is highly specific for 4-methylene-L-glutamic acid (Km = 2.7 mM) as the amide acceptor. Product identification and stoichiometric studies establish the reaction catalyzed to be: 4-methyleneglutamic acid + NH4+ + ATP Mg2+----4-methyleneglutamine + AMP + PPi. PPi accumulates only when F- is added to inhibit pyrophosphatase activity present in synthetase preparations. This enzymatic activity is completely insensitive to the glutamine synthetase inhibitors, tabtoxinine-beta-lactam and F-, and is only partially inhibited by methionine sulfoximine. It is, however, inhibited by added pyrophosphate in the presence of F- as well as by certain divalent metal ions (other than Mg2+) including Hg2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Ca2+. All data obtained indicate that this newly detected synthetase is distinct from the well-known glutamine and asparagine synthetases.