Some kinetic studies on cytidine aminohydrolase activity from Aspergillus niger NRRL3

Cell free extract of nitrate-grown Aspergillus niger NRRL3 catalyzed the hydrolytic deamination of cytidine out of the tested bases, their nucleosides and nucleotides to uridine maximally at pH 7 and at 50 degrees C. The deaminating activity seems to be specific for cytidine, as the extracts could not deaminate AMP, GMP, CMP, adenosine, guanosine, adenine, guanine, and cytosine. Maximum activity of cytidine deaminase was achieved in Tris-HCl buffer at concentration of 0.15 M. Incubation of the extracts at 70 degrees C for 30 minutes in absence of cytidine caused about 70% loss in its activity, while dialysis, freezing and thawing has no effect on the activity. Results indicated the absence of the involvement of SH group(s) in the catalytic site of cytidine deaminase. Uridine competitively inhibited the enzyme activity, while ammonia had no effect. The apparent K(m) value of this enzyme for cytidine was 2.6 x 10(-3) and the Ki value for uridine was 10.06 x 10(-3).