Glucose oxidation and cytochromes in solubilized particulate fractions of Acetobacter suboxydans.

Microbial terminal oxidases are usually associated with particulate fractions in the cell. These fractions, however, are difficult to resolve into smaller active molecules that are suitable for enzymatic studies in vitro. This fact led Rittenberg (1) to propose that these particles are surrounded by a special membrane. The present paper will report a method of “solubilization”’ of particulate oxidase systems from Acetobacter suboxydans. This method can also be applied to other organisms, such a.s Acetobacter pasteurianum. With the extracts obtained, cytochrome spectra and a glucose oxidase have been observed.