Tryptophanase activity in different toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of Vibrio cholerae: effect of glucose.

Tryptophanase activity was measured in eight different toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) in presence and absence of inducer tryptophan (2 mM). Stimulation of enzyme activity was observed in both toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of V. cholerae in presence of inducer. Tryptophanase activity remained much higher in toxigenic strains than that in nontoxigenic strains. Low levels of enzyme activity in nontoxigenic strains could be increased by the addition of exogenous cyclic AMP. A lower concentration of glucose (0.25 gm%) in culture medium produced no inhibitory effect on enzyme activity. But a higher concentration of glucose (3 gm%) repressed the tryptophanase activity. The repressive effect of glucose could be reversed by the addition of exogenous cyclic AMP.