Purification and characterization of two aldehyde dehydrogenases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Two soluble aldehyde dehydrogenases isoenzymes have been purified and separated from extracts of a paraffin-assimilating bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The first one, obtained at an estimated purity of 20% (spec. act. with butanal 0.33 kat/kg) was NAD-dependent. It was rapidly inactivated at pH 8.6 but was efficiently protected by NAD. It had a molecular weight of 225000 and presented a high affinity for aldehydes of short and middle chain lengths. The second enzyme, obtained in a nearly homogenous state (spec. act. with pentanal 0.62 kat/kg) was NADP-dependent. It was activated by ions, in particular potassium ions, and had a good affinity for aldehydes of higher chain lengths. Both enzymes were stabilized by thiols and glycerol and were inactivated by reagents of sulfhydryl groups. These enzymes are 'constitutive' and their physiological function is uncertain. When the bacteria were grown on n-paraffin a new membrane-bound NAD-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was produced.