OPINE OXIDOREDUCTASES IN MARINE WORMS OF 5 PHYLA

1. Activities of enzymes catalyzing reductive condensation of pyruvate with various amino acids were measured in tissue extracts of 14 speci es of marine worms in five phyla. 2. The lactate oxidoreductase in fou r polychaetes was specific for L-lactate, and all produced alanopine; in another group of three species, no opine enzymes were found and onl y D-lactate was oxidized; sipunculids resembled the first group; and a n echiurid resembled the latter. 3. Activities were coded and entered into a phylogeny program, which yielded a tree with a sipunculid at th e base, Glycera near it, Nereis far removed, and the priapulid in an i ntermediate position.