PRESENCE OF F-420-DEPENDENT GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE IN MYCOBACTERIUM AND NOCARDIA SPECIES, BUT ABSENCE FROM STREPTOMYCES AND CORYNEBACTERIUM SPECIES AND METHANOGENIC ARCHAEA

A range of organisms known to contain F-420 or to be relatives of myco bacteria were examined for F-420-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydro genase (FGD) and NADP-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (NAD P-G6PD) activities. All free-growing Mycobacterium species examined (i ncluding a virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain) had FGD activit ies of 0.014-0.418 mu mol min(-1) mg protein(-1), and NADP-G6PD activi ties of 0.013-0.636 mu mol min(-1) mg(-1). Armadillo-grown Mycobacteri um leprae had FGD activity of 0.008 mu mol min(-1) mg(-1), but no dete ctable NADP-G6PD activity. Nocardia species also had FGD activity (0.0 88-0.154 mu mol min(-1) mg(-1)). Streptomyces and Corynebacterium spec ies had no FGD, but had NADP-G6PD. Methanogenic Archaea had neither ac tivity.