Production of L-Asparaginase by the marine luminous bacteria

Abstract

Fortythree strains of luminous bacteria, belonging to 4 species, (Vibrio harveyi, V. fischeri, Photobacterium leiognathi and P. phosphoreum) isolated from different marine samples, were examined for the production of L-asparaginase. Presence or secretion of this enzyme was not a uniform trait among the strains of the formed 3 species and none of P. phosphoreum strains possessed this enzyme. A wide difference was discernible in the production of L-asparaginase among the strains of V. harveyi and P. leiognathi. On a comparative basis, however, amounts of this enzyme secretEd. by the luminous prokaryotes is generally higher than those reported for other bacterial species