The red alga, Gymnogongrus flabelliformis has a peculiar free amino acid pattern, in which one characteristic amino acid, gigartinine, is the most dominant component1-4). Recently, we observed that the contents of gigartinine and citrulline in the extracts of the alga decreased markedly during storage at about -20℃.
The purpose of this paper is to report that the cell free extract of Gymnogongrus flabelliformis has an enzymatic activity for the decomposition of basic L-amino acids.
1) The cell free extract was prepared by grinding the alga with an equal volume of pH 8.0 Tris buffer in a mortar previously chilled and centrifuging for 30 min. at 10,000 rpm under chilling. The supernatant obtained was dialyzed against distilled water for 24 hours.
2) The extract showed a deaminative activity towards L-gigartinine, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-ornithine, and decomposed 50% of DL-gigartinine, DL-lysine and DL-ornithine. It suggests that D-isomers are not affected.
3) The influence of the different kinds of buffer solution on the decomposing activity of the extract towards arginine was examined. The phosphate buffer showed a slightly inhibitive effect.
4) Effects of pH and temperature on the decomposing activity of the extract were examined. The pH optimum was relatively broad. The activity of the extract did not vary appreciably from pH 8.0 to 9.0. The optimum temperature was about 30℃.
5) The decomposition products of arginine and gigartinine were surveyed by paperchromatography and the corresponding a-keto acid to each one of the amino acids was detected, respectively. The data suggest that the extract of the alga has an activity to catalyze oxidative deamination of basic L-amino acids.