Purification and Properties of L-Arginine Decarboxylase of Evernia prunastri

An L-arginine decarboxylase was isolated from Evernia prunastrithallus. The enzyme was purified about 117-fold and showed apH optimum of 7.1 and a temperature optimum at 26°C. Itsmolecular weight was estimated as 300,000. The Evernia argininedecarboxylase was significantly inhibited by L-ornithine, ureaand putrescine. The K_m for L-arginine was about 12.5 mM. (Received March 9, 1981; Accepted June 26, 1981)