Similarity of tuna N-acetylhistidine deacetylase and cod fish anserinase.

1. The brain and ocular fluid of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) contained high levels of N-acetylhistidine deacetylase. 2. This enzyme had a molecular weight of about 120,000 and was activated by zinc or cobaltous ions. 3. Cod (Gadus callarias) brain, ocular fluid and muscle contained a similar metal-activated thiol hydrolase, the muscle enzyme being known as anserinase. 4. The purified enzymes hydrolyzed N-acetylhistidine, carnosine, homocarnosine, anserine and certain other dipeptides. 5. Their specificity resembled that of hog kidney homocarnosinase. 6. In both fish, brain and ocular fluid were rich sources of this hydrolase, whereas muscle contained only trace amounts.