Utilization of purines and their derivatives by Gaffkya homari.

Gaffkya homari, a micrococcus isolated from septicemic lobsters, has an obligate purine requirement (Aaronson, 1956). Further study shows this requirement to be satisfied by several natural purines as well as by several purine analogues. This broad response suggested that G. homari might be useful for studying purine biosynthesis. We wished especially to know whether G. homari utilized 4-amino-5-imidazolecarboxamide ("carboxamide") and 4-amino-5imidazolecarboxamidine ("amidine") in a manner similar to that reported for several other pLirme requiring microorganisms (Aaronson and Nathan, 1954; Aaronson, 1955).