Coordinate induction of peroxidase and H2O2-forming nucleoside oxidase in Flavobacterium meningosepticum

Flavobacterium meningosepticum produced a peroxidase coordinately with a H2 O2-forming nucleoside oxidase under culture conditions where the bacterium inducibly produced the nucleoside oxidase. The nucleoside oxidase and perox idase both required Fe2+ or Fe3+ for their production, and Cu2+ enhanced th e production of both enzymes. The addition of nucleoside analogs to the med ium also enhanced the production of both enzymes. The time course of peroxi dase production coincided with that of the nucleoside oxidase production. T hese results suggest that the peroxidase has a specific function related to the nucleoside oxidase reaction, in breaking down the H2O2 formed, which w ould otherwise cause oxidative cell damage. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.