Diacetyl reductase of Lactobacillus casei

Abstract

Diacetyl reductase (diacetyl:reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidoreductase, EC. 1.1.1.5) has been isolated from Lactobacillus casei. Cell sonication, ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and alumina gel adsorption were used to obtain the partially purified enzyme. Both NADH oxidase and diacetyl reductase activity were associated with the same fraction at all stages in purification. Growth in media containing added pyruvate resulted in a 10-fold increase in the NADH oxidase activity and a 3-fold increase in the diacetyl reductase activity of crude cell extracts on a protein basis. Purified preparations showed maximal reductase and oxidase activities at pH 4.5 and 5.0, respectively. Lineweaver–Burke plots yielded intersecting lines when NADH and diacetyl concentrations were varied, suggesting a flavin-linked reaction. The absorption spectrum of the purified preparation was characteristic of that of a flavoprotein. The product of the reduction of diacetyl was identified as acetoin. Acetoin and methylene blue were inactive as acceptors.