Evidence of Leu-Val-Leu hydrolysis by Clostridium butyricum

The ability of Clostridium butyricum cultures in synthetic medium to hydrol yse the tripeptide Leu-Val-Leu was demonstrated using gas chromatography co upled with mass spectrometry. Electrospray mass spectrometry was used to co nfirm this unknown activity for this C-heterotrophic species listed sacchar olytic, non-proteolytic clostridia. The oligopeptide hydrolysis activity is characterised by the detection of the released amino acids and the product s of their bioconversion, the corresponding 2-hydroxyacids. This observatio n opens new aspects in the study of C. butyricum and raised questions about the peptide metabolism by this species. The enzymes implied in the oligope pitide hydrolysis can be regarded as potential virulence factors and being an element in the comprehension of certain pathologies. (C) 1999 Academic Press.