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A Spot Test for Catechol 2:3‐Oxygenase in Bacteria
Author(s) -
Pankhurst Eileen S.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1965.tb02158.x
Subject(s) - catechol , bacteria , phenol , catechol oxidase , agar , chemistry , nutrient agar , food science , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry , polyphenol oxidase , peroxidase , genetics
A simple and quickly performed colour test is described, in which organisms containing catechol 2:3‐oxygenase (meta‐pyrocatechase) produce from catechol a yellow coloured intermediate, α‐hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. The yellow colour is produced most consistently, rapidly and intensely by 2–4 day old cultures from 2·7–27 mM solutions of catechol. The purple‐brown colour produced by some organisms is discussed. Using growth from nutrient agar plates, the test was applied to cultures of 239 Gram negative bacteria; all of the 64 cultures which gave a positive result had been in contact previously with aromatic substrates and many of them could oxidize phenol. The significance of a positive reaction is discussed briefly.