PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A LIPOXYGENASE FROM FUSARIUM-PROLIFERATUM

Biomass of the fungus Fusarium proliferatum was produced and used to o btain a crude extract (FI) of lipoxygenase. The enzyme was further pur ified by ammonium sulfate precipitation at 40% of saturation (FII). Th e enzymatic extract (FII) showed its optimum activity at pH 6.0. The a pparent K-m and V-max values for the lipoxygenase (FII) were calculate d to be 5.15 x 10(-5) M and 1.61 mu mol hydroperoxide/mg protein/min, respectively. Enzyme activity remained relatively stable at potassium cyanide concentrations as high as 60 mM. The presence of 5 mM ethylene diaminetetraacetate activated the enzyme by 50%, whereas the use of 1. 2 mM hydroquinone resulted in a 2-fold increase in lipoxygenase activi ty. The partially purified enzyme (FII) showed a three-fold enhancemen t of activity towards linoleic acid compared to linolenic acid as well as mono-, di- and trilinolein.