[Decarboxylase activity of Serratia marcescens utilizing glucose and glycerin]

The activity of decarboxylase in the cells of slightly coloured and pigmented Serratia marcescens strains was studied as a function of carbon sources in the growth medium and substrates for determining the enzyme activity. The cells of both strains grown in a medium with glucose produced 1.2--3.8 times more CO2 on glucose and sodium pyruvate solutions used as substrates, as compared to the cells that had utilized glycerol. Irrespective of a carbon source contained in the growth medium, the cells evolved the highest amount of CO2 on sodium pyruvate.