Isolation and identification of an arginine deiminase producing strain Pseudomonas plecoglossicida CGMCC2039

Arginine deiminase (ADI), an arginine degrading enzyme, has been studied as a potential anti-cancer agent for arginine-auxotrophic tumors, such as melanomas and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). In this study, a strain SWP1 producing high activity of ADI was isolated from the Wuxi canal. Based on its morphological, biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, SWP1 was identified as Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and is now deposited at CGMCC (China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center) as P. plecoglossicida CGMCC2039. It is gram-negative, aerobe, rod-shaped, motile by one or several polar flagella. In vitro studies showed that HCC cell line HEPG2 was sensitive to ADI isolated from P. plecoglossicida CGMCC2039. Our study suggests that ADI from P. plecoglossicida CGMCC2039 could become a novel anti-tumor drug.