INHIBITION BY AGMATINE OF PROTEASES PRODUCED BY MARINE-BACTERIA

Naturally occurring amino acids and diamines such as arginine, agmatin e and putrescine, inhibited proteases produced by the marine putrefact ive bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens S29 and Alteromonas haloplanktis S5B, although the compounds did not inhibit bacterial growth. Among th e amino acids and diamines tested, agmatine showed the greatest inhibi tory effect, that is, 1 mM of agmatine inhibited 60% of the activity o f the S. putrefaciens enzyme and 80% of the A. haloplanktis protease. Kinetic data indicated apparent competitive inhibition with the substr ate (Bz-Arg-MCA) in the protease assay.