From ATP as substrate to ADP as coenzyme: functional evolution of the nucleotide binding subunit of dihydroxyacetone kinases

Dihydroxyacetone kinases are a family of sequence-related enzymes that utilize either ATP or a protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) as a source of high energy phosphate. The PTS is a multicomponent system involved in carbohydrate uptake and control of carbon metabolism in bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the PTS-dependent dihydroxyacetone kinases evolved from an ATP-dependent ancestor. Their nucleotide binding subunit, an eight-helix barrel of regular up-down topology, retains ADP as phosphorylation site for the double displacement of phosphate from a phospho-histidine of the PTS protein to dihydroxyacetone. ADP is bound essentially irreversibly with a t((1/2)) of 100 min. Complexation with ADP increases the thermal unfolding temperature of dihydroxyacetone L from 40 (apo-form) to 65 degrees C (holoenzyme). ADP assumes the same role as histidines, cysteines, and aspartic acids in histidine kinases and PTS proteins. This conversion of a substrate binding site into a cofactor binding site reflects a remarkable instance of parsimonious evolution.     

Suicide inactivation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase

2-Keto-4,4,4-trifluorobutyl phosphate (HTFP) was prepared from 3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid. HTFP acts as an irreversible inhibitor of rabbit muscle aldolase: the loss of activity was time dependent and the inactivation followed a pseudo-first-order process. Values of 1.4 mM for the dissociation constant and 2.3 X 10(-2) s-1 for the reaction rate constant were determined. The kinetic constants do not depend on the enzyme concentration. No effect of thiols on the inactivation rate was detected. Only 1-2 mol of fluoride ions was liberated per inactivated subunit, indicative of a low partition ratio. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate protected the enzyme against the inactivation in a competitive manner, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate protected as if it formed a condensation product with HTPF. 5,5'-Dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) thiol titration showed the loss of one very reactive thiol group per enzyme subunit after inactivation. All those observations seem to agree with a suicide substrate inactivation of aldolase by HTPF.     

Monitoring of dihydroxyacetone production during oxidation of glycerol by immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans cells with an enzyme biosensor

A bi-enzymatic biosensor for monitoring of dihydroxyacetone production during oxidation of glycerol by bacterial cells of Gluconobacter oxydans is presented. Galactose oxidase oxidizes dihydroxyacetone efficiently producing hydrogen peroxide, which reacts with co-immobilized peroxidase and ferrocene pre-adsorbed on graphite electrode. This mediator-based bi-enzymatic biosensor possesses very high sensitivity (4.7 μA/mM in phosphate buffer), low detection limit (0.8 μM, signal/noise = 3), short response time (22 s, 95% of steady-state) and broad linear range (0.002-0.55 mM in phosphate buffer). The effect of pH, temperature, type of buffer, as well as different stabilizers (combinations of a polyelectrolyte and a polyol) on the sensor performance were carefully optimized and discussed. Dihydroxyacetone produced during a batch conversion of glycerol by the pectate-immobilized bacteria in an air-lift reactor was determined by the biosensor and by reference spectrophotometric method. Both methods were compared and were in a very good correlation. The main advantage of the biosensor is a very short time needed for sample analysis (less than 1 min).     

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PYRUVATE KINASE FROM THE GREEN ALGA CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII1

A single form of pyruvate kinase was isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dang. (Chlorophyta) and partially purified over twentyfold, yielding a final specific activity of 2.68 μmol pyruvate produced-min^-1.mg^-1 protein. Studies of its physical characteristics reveal that the pyruvate kinase is heat stable, is partially inactivated by sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide, and has a pH optimum at 6.8 and a native molecular mass of 224 kDa. Immunological precipitation and western blotting, using antibodies raised against Selenastrum minutum Naeg. (Chlorophyta) cytosolic pyruvate kinase, reveal that C. reinhardtii pyruvate kinase possesses a subunit molecular mass of 57 kDa, indicating a homo-tetrameric structure. This enzyme exhibits an absolute requirement for a divalent cation that can be fulfilled, by Mg²⁺. The monovalent cation K⁺ acts as a strong activator. The K_m values for phosphoenolpyruvate and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) are 0.16 mM and 0.18 mM, respectively. The enzyme is capable of using other nucleotides with V_max for UDP, GDP, IDP, and CDP of 70%, 55%, 53%, and 25% of that with ADP, respectively. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), ribose-5-phosphate, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate are activators, whereas glutamate, orthophosphate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), citrate, isocitrate, malate, oxalate, phosphoglycolate, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate are potent inhibitors of this enzyme. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate can reverse the inhibition by glutamate and phosphate. These properties are discussed in light of pyruvate kinase regulation during anabolic and catabolic respiration. Substrate interaction and product inhibition studies indicate that ADP is the first substrate bound to the enzyme and pyruvate is the last product released (Ordered Bi Bi mechanism).     

Dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Its structure and reactivity with α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase and some possible metabolic implications

1. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate exists in neutral aqueous solution at 20 degrees C as a mixture of keto, gem-diol and enolic forms in the ratio 55:44:1. 2. The three forms are freely interconvertible and rate constants for these reactions have been determined. 3. Keto-dihydroxyacetone phosphate is the primary reactive species in the reactions catalysed by alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase. 4. The proportion of keto form to gem-diol forms of dihydroxyacetone phosphate is temperature-dependent. At 37 degrees C, 83% is keto-dihydroxyacetone phosphate. 5. The enzymological and metabolic consequences of these results are discussed.     

Glycolytic activity of the claw and tail muscle homogenates of the lobster, Homarus vulgaris

The fate of D-glucose-6-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate in homogenates of tail and claw muscles of the lobster (H vulgaris) has been studied. With both substrates oxygen utilization is higher for the claw than for the tail muscle. Succinate is not an end product of anaerobic D-glucose-6-phosphate-U- ¹⁴C degradation in either muscle but L-lactate is the major product of such catabolism in tail muscle whereas both L-lactate and L-alanine are produced in claw muscle. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate production was observed both tissues: this can be related to the known high lipid content of these tissues.     

Properties of the enzymes catalyzing the biosynthesis of lysophosphatidate and its ether analog in cultured fibroblasts from Zellweger syndrome patients and normal controls

The activities, properties, and steady-state kinetics of the five enzymes catalyzing the synthesis of 1-acyl- and 1-alkyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate in the cultured skin fibroblasts from Zellweger syndrome patients and normal controls were studied in detail. Judging from their Km and Vmax values, glycerol phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.15), acyl/alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase (EC 1.1.1.101), and acyl coenzyme A reductase (long-chain alcohol forming), appear to be affected only slightly by the absence of peroxisomes characteristic of the Zellweger syndrome. Glycerophosphate acyltransferase also showed no differences in N-ethylmaleimide sensitivity nor in inhibition by dihydroxyacetone phosphate between these cell types. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.42) and alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase (EC 2.5.1.26) have altered activity and kinetic constants in homogenates from Zellweger syndrome fibroblasts. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase has similar Km (DHAP) values in both control and Zellweger syndrome cells; however, the value for the Vmax in Zellweger syndrome cells is only 6% of that found in the controls. This is interpreted as indicating that this enzyme is not defective in this disease but is simply present at a depressed level. Also, this enzyme activity has a maximum rate at pH 7.0-7.5 in the mutant cells as opposed to pH 5.4 in the controls. Acylation of dihydroxyacetone phosphate by control cell homogenate was stimulated by N-ethylmaleimide at both pH 5.7 and 7.5 whereas this activity from Zellweger syndrome cells was slightly inhibited at pH 5.7 and strongly inhibited at pH 7.5. In the absence of detergent, dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase in the Zellweger syndrome cells was much more labile to trypsin than in the control cells. Alkyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase had a slightly higher Km (33 vs 17 microM) for palmitoyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate and a lower Vmax (0.07 vs 0.24 mU/mg protein) in the Zellweger syndrome cells as compared to controls. Although this is a substantial decrease in activity, it probably contributes little to the decreased rate of ether lipid synthesis in these cells. The major problem in this respect is apparently the loss of dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activity. All of these enzymes, in both control and Zellweger syndrome cell homogenates, are sedimentable by centrifugation at 100,000g. Also, with the exception of dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase they had similar patterns of inactivation by heat in both cell types.     

Metabolism of hepatic haem and `green pigments'' in rats given 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide and ferric citrate. A new model for hepatic haem turnover

The acyl specificities of several acyltransferases located in the microsomal fraction of lactating rat mammary gland have been investigated using palmitate and oleate as substrates along with CoA, ATP and Mg²⁺, bovine serum albumin and NaF. With either sn-glycerol 3-phosphate or dihydroxyacetone phosphate (plus NADPH) as acyl acceptor, phosphatidic acid containing palmitate preferentially esterified at position-2 and oleate at position-1 was the major product. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate competitively inhibited each other's acylations, suggesting that a single enzyme might be responsible for both esterifications and oleate was the preferred substrate for the formation of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate. The specificities of the acyl-CoA–1-monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and the acyl-CoA–2-monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferases were also studied. The specificities observed combined with the relative velocities of these reactions suggest that phosphatidic acid is formed in the mammary gland with the first acylation occurring at position-1 favouring oleate followed by the second acylation at position-2 favouring palmitate. This is consistent with the unusual structure found in the triacylglycerols of rat milk. When a mouse liver microsomal fraction was used the opposite specificities were observed consistent with the structure of the triacylglycerols of mouse liver. The microsomal acylation of the monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphocholines was also investigated. Although no marked acyl specificity could be detected when the 2-monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphocholine was used as the acyl acceptor, both oleate and linoleate were esterified in preference to palmitate to the 1-monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphocholine.     

Use of dye affinity chromatography for the purification of Aerococcus viridans lactate oxidase

Lactate oxidase was purified from Aerococcus viridans (A. viridans) by dye affinity chromatography and FPLC ion exchange chromatography. The lactate oxidase could be purified by comparatively simple procedures, the purification achieved from a crude extract of A. viridans was 41-fold with a specific activity of 143 units/(mg of protein). The purified enzyme was a L-lactate oxidase, which catalyses the conversion of L-lactate in the presence of molecular oxygen to pyruvate and H(2)O(2). This purified lactate oxidase showed an apparent molecular mass of 48,200 in SDS-PAGE and the native molecular weight, as estimated by FPLC gel filtration, was 187,300. This molecular weight indicates that lactate oxidase exists in tetrameric form after gel filtration. To differing degrees, all the triazine dyes tested were inhibitors of lactate oxidase, solutions of free triazine dyes showing an inhibition mechanism which was both time- and pH-dependent.     

The conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to methylglyoxal and inorganic phosphate by methylglyoxal synthase.

[¹⁴C]Dihydroxyacetone phosphate labeled in either the C-1 or C-3 position was enzymatically synthesized, isolated, and utilized as a substrate for crystalline methylglyoxal synthase purified from Proteus vulgaris. After reaction with the enzyme, the methyl carbon of methylglyoxal³ was identified as CHI₃ by the iodoform reaction. The labeling pattern revealed that C-1 is dephosphorylated and reduced to the methyl group, while C-3 is oxidized to the aldehyde. Methylglyoxal was found to be noncompetitive with respect to dihydroxyacetone phosphate, while inorganic phosphate was competitive and transformed the dihydroxyacetone phosphate saturation kinetics from hyperbolic to sigmoidal. The enzyme was inactivated by freezing, and phosphate stabilized the enzyme toward both cold- and heat-induced denaturation. The phosphate moiety of the substrate appears to be required for binding, since the synthase is competitively inhibited by a variety of phosphorylated compounds but not by their nonphosphorylated counterparts. Based on these observations, and the ability of bromo- and iodoacetol phosphates to act as active-site reagents, a mechanism is proposed in which the enzyme first catalyzes the keto-enol tautomerization to the hydrogen-bonded enol which facilitates the internal oxidation-reduction and phosphoester cleavage with CO bond breakage.     

Chemical trapping of complexes of dihydroxyacetone phosphate with muscle fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase

Dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) in equilibrium with FDP aldolase of muscle is present in the form of two major covalent complexes. One, representing approximately 60% of total bound substrate, decomposes to Pi and methylglyoxal upon acid denaturation of the enzyme as first reported by Grazi and Trombetta [Grazi, E., & Trombetta, G. (1979) Biochem. J. 175, 361-365]. This is now shown to be the enzyme-eneamine phosphate reaction intermediate since Pi formation is prevented if the acid denaturation is done in the presence of potassium ferricyanide, an oxidant of the eneamine. The enzyme-eneamine aldehyde X Pi 6, presumed to be an intermediate of the slow methylglyoxal synthetase reaction of aldolase, must not be a significant source of the Pi produced upon denaturation and is probably not a significant component of the equilibrium. The oxidation product, the enzyme-imine of phosphopyruvaldehyde, is sufficiently stable in 1 N HCl, t1/2 = 76 min at 0 degree C, to be isolated with the trichloroacetic acid precipitated protein. A second covalent complex, approximately 20-24% of bound dihydroxyacetone [32P]phosphate, remains with the protein during acid denaturation and centrifugation. This acid-stable complex is formed rapidly and is chased rapidly by unlabeled substrate. Its stability in 1 N HCl is similar to that of the ferricyanide-oxidized derivative mentioned above. From this and its reactivity with cyanoborohydride in acid, this complex is thought to be the imine adduct of DHAP with aldolase 4 and/or the carbinolamine complex 3 present in the initial equilibrium. D-Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate in the carbonyl form also forms an acid-precipitable complex with aldolase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in the concentrations of hepatic metabolites on administration of dihydroxyacetone or glycerol to starved rats and their relationship to the control of ketogenesis

1. Glycerol and dihydroxyacetone, both antiketogenic and readily metabolized, but differing in their effects on the redox state of the hepatic NAD couples, were given to starved rats and the contents of metabolites were measured in freezeclamped liver and in the blood. The object was to study the effects of changes in the redox state and of the availability of oxidizable substrates on the rate of ketone-body formation. 2. Intramuscular administration of dihydroxyacetone, glycerol or glucose to starved rats decreased the concentrations of acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate in the blood by 70-80% within 60min., whereas there was no major change in the free fatty acid concentration. 3. Dihydroxyacetone, but not glucose or glycerol, caused an immediate and sustained twofold increase in the blood lactate concentration. 4. Dihydroxyacetone and glycerol caused a rapid fall in the hepatic concentrations of ketone bodies, dihydroxyacetone being more effective. 5. This decrease was not accompanied by significant changes in the concentrations of acetyl-CoA, long-chain acyl-CoA or free CoA. 6. The hepatic glycerophosphate concentration rose about 40-fold on administration of glycerol, whereas with dihydroxyacetone the increase was only about 50%. The large increase in glycerophosphate concentration after administration of glycerol was completely prevented by pretreatment of the rats with tri-iodothyronine. Triiodothyronine-treated rats showed the same decrease in ketone-body concentrations after administration of glycerol as the untreated rats. 7. Glycerol and dihydroxyacetone caused an increase in the hepatic lactate concentration; the pyruvate concentration rose only after injection of dihydroxyacetone. 8. Both compounds increased liver glycogen. 9. Calculation of the [free NAD(+)]/[free NADH] ratios indicated that dihydroxyacetone increased the ratio in cytoplasm and mitochondria, whereas glycerol caused a prompt fall in both compartments, followed at 10min. by a slight rise in the mitochondrial compartment. 10. Dihydroxyacetone did not alter the hepatic content of ATP. 11. The findings suggest that the main reason for the antiketogenic effect of glycerol and dihydroxyacetone was a consequence of their ready metabolism and the provision of an increased supply of C(3) intermediates for conversion into oxaloacetate. Under the test conditions, neither the hepatic content of alpha-glycerophosphate nor the redox state of the NAD couples appeared to play a major role in the regulation of ketogenesis.     

Triosephosphate isomerase: energetics of the reaction catalyzed by the yeast enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli

Triosephosphate isomerase from bakers' yeast, expressed in Escherichia coli strain DF502(p12), has been purified to homogeneity. The kinetics of the reaction in each direction have been determined at pH 7.5 and 30 degrees C. Deuterium substitution at the C-2 position of substrate (R)-glyceraldehyde phosphate and at the 1-pro-R position of substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate results in kinetic isotope effects on kcat of 1.6 and 3.4, respectively. The extent of transfer of tritium from [1(R)-3H]dihydroxyacetone phosphate to product (R)-glyceraldehyde phosphate during the catalyzed reaction is only 3% after 66% conversion to product, indicating that the enzymic base that mediates proton transfer is in rapid exchange with solvent protons. When the isomerase-catalyzed reaction is run in tritiated water in each direction, radioactivity is incorporated both into the remaining substrate and into the product. In the "exchange-conversion" experiment with dihydroxyacetone phosphate as substrate, the specific radioactivity of remaining dihydroxyacetone phosphate rises as a function of the extent of reaction with a slope of about 0.3, while the specific radioactivity of the products is 54% that of the solvent. In the reverse direction with (R)-glyceraldehyde phosphate as substrate, the specific radioactivity of the product formed is only 11% that of the solvent, while the radioactivity incorporated into the remaining substrate (R)-glyceraldehyde phosphate also rises as a function of the extent of reaction with a slope of 0.3. These results have been analyzed according to the protocol described earlier to yield the free energy profile of the reaction catalyzed by the yeast isomerase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Presence of Escherichia coli of a deaminase and a reductase involved in biosynthesis of riboflavin.

Two enzymes have been partially purified from extracts of Escherchia coli B which together catalyze the conversion of the product of the action of GTP cyclohydrolase II, 2,5-diamino-6-oxy-4-(5'-phosphoribosylamine)pyrimidine, to 5-amino-2,6-dioxy-4-(5'-phosphoribitylamine)pyrimidine. These two compounds are currently thought to be intermediates in the biosynthesis of riboflavin. The enzymatic conversion occurs in two steps. The product of the action of GTP cyclohydrolase II first undergoes hydrolytic deamination at carbon 2 of the ring, followed by reduction of the ribosylamino group to a ribitylamino group. The enzyme which catalyzes the first step, herein called the "deaminase," has been purified 200-fold. The activity was assayed by detecting the conversion of the product of the reaction catalyzed by GTP cyclohydrolase II to a compound which reacts with butanedione to form 6,7-dimethyllumazine. The enzyme has a molecular weight of approximately 80,000 and a pH optimum of 9.1. The dephosphorylated form of the substrate is not deaminated in the presence of the enzyme. The assay for the enzyme which catalyzes the second step, referred to here as the "reductase," involves the detection of the conversion of the product of the deaminase-catalyzed reaction to a compound which, after treatment with alkaline phosphatase, reacts with butanedione to form 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine. The reductase has a molecular weight of approximately 40,000 and a pH optimum of 7.5. Like the deaminase, the reductase does not act on the dephosphorylated form of its substrate. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate is required as a cofactor; reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide can be used about 30% as well as the phosphate form. The activity of neither enzyme is inhibited by riboflavin, FMN, or flavine adenine dinucleotide.     

The components of an α-glycerophosphate cycle and their relation to oxidative metabolism in the lens

1. The concentration of ATP in a lens brei is maintained when the brei is incubated in oxygen with alpha-glycerophosphate. Lack of alpha-glycerophosphate or incubation in nitrogen causes the concentration to decrease. alpha-Glycerophosphate has some effect under anaerobic conditions but this is not sufficient to account for the maintenance in oxygen. 2. Manometric experiments show that alpha-glycerophosphate enhances the respiration of lens preparations. This respiration can be further increased by the addition of ADP and is abolished by cyanide and antimycin. The inference from these experiments is that a mitochondrial system able to oxidize alpha-glycerophosphate is present, i.e. the particulate half of the alpha-glycerophosphate cycle. 3. More than the calculated proportion of NADH is used when limiting amounts of dihydroxyacetone phosphate are added to lens tissue in spectrophotometric experiments. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate is therefore regenerated and an alpha-glycerophosphate cycle is operative. 4. A preparation of a particulate alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase that takes up oxygen with methylene blue as electron acceptor is described. 5. Methods for obtaining mitochondria from lens are compared, and a useful extraction medium is defined. 6. Mitochondria with activities of the same order of magnitude as those obtained from liver, with alpha-glycerophosphate and glutamate as substrates, are prepared from epithelium detached from the capsule; some respiratory control is observed.     

Alkyl-dihydroxyacetone phosphate synthase and dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase form a protein complex in peroxisomes.

Dihydroxyacetone phosphate (GrnP) acyltransferase and alkyl-GrnP synthase are the key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of ether phospholipids. Both enzymes are located on the inside of the peroxisomal membrane. Here we report evidence for a direct interaction between these enzymes obtained by the use of chemical cross-linking. After cross-linking and immunoblot analysis alkyl-GrnP synthase could be detected in a 210-kDa complex which was located entirely on the lumenal side of the peroxisomal membrane. Two-dimensional SDS/PAGE demonstrated that GrnP-acyltransferase is also cross-linked in a 210-kDa complex. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed that the two enzymes interact, in a heterotrimeric complex. Furthermore, alkyl-GrnP synthase can form a homotrimeric complex in the absence of GrnP-acyltransferase as was demonstrated by immunoblot analysis after cross-linking experiments with either GrnP-acyltransferase deficient human fibroblast homogenates or recombinant (His)6-tagged alkyl-GrnP synthase. We conclude that alkyl-GrnP synthase interacts selectively with GrnP-acyltransferase in a heterotrimeric complex and in the absence of GrnP-acyltransferase can also form a homotrimeric complex.     

Repeated use of immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans cells for conversion of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is of great interest in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industry; therefore, the discovery of suitable biocatalysts for the efficient production of it is very necessary. In the experiment, Gluconobacter oxydans was immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Various parameters of the immobilized cells were investigated. The results have shown that the optimal conversion conditions by the immobilized cells were at 30 degrees C and pH 6.0. The immobilized cells remained very active over the period of 14 days for storage and only lost 10% of its original activity. Repeated use of immobilized cells for conversion of glycerol to DHA was carried out in a 1.5 L stirred tank reactor, the average conversion rate was about 86%. Despite the high shear stress, bead shape was not affected, even after five consecutive conversion cycles. The regenerated biocatalyst could recover 90% of its initial activity.     

Septicaemia associated with an Aerococcus viridans infection in immunodeficient mice

This report describes a case series of septicaemia caused by infection with Aerococcus viridans in immunodeficient NOD/LtSz-Prkdc(scid) (NOD/SCID) mice. During a period of 3 weeks more than 40 animals died or became ill with clinical signs of ruffled coat, weight loss, laboured breeding, and distended abdomen. At necropsy it was found that the animals displayed symptoms of sepsis with widespread abscesses in the liver, heart, lungs or pyogenic peritonitis. A Gram-positive coccus was isolated in pure culture from the abscesses or peritoneum from affected animals. According to phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization, the isolate was identified as A. viridans. This is the first report of a spontaneous outbreak of septicaemia caused by A. viridans infection in immunodeficient laboratory mice and we conclude that A. viridans should be considered as a pathogen in immunodeficient mice.