IDENTIFICATION OF CHOLESTEROL OXIDASE FROM FAST-GROWING MYCOBACTERIALSTRAINS AND RHODOCOCCUS SP

Cholesterol oxidase synthesis ability by various fast-growing mycobact eria (M. fortuitum, M. vaccae, M. phlei, M. smegmatis) and Rhodococcus sp. IM 58 was investigated by thin-layer chromatography and Western b lot analysis. In contrast with the case of cholesterol oxidases from A rthrobacter sp. IM 79 and Streptomyces sp., those from the strains tes ted were localized intracellularly. Western blot experiments revealed high antigenic similarity of those enzymatic proteins to cholesterol o xidase from Schizophyllum commune, and lack of homology to cholesterol oxidase from Streptomyces sp. Differences in the analyzed enzymes wer e due not only to a single antigenic determinant alteration but also t o the significant distinctions on the genetic level as shown by Southe rn blot hybridization.