Effect of salts and organic solvents on the activity of Halobacterium cutirubrum catalase.

Catalase in extracts of the extreme halophile Halobacterium cutirubrum exhibits up to threefold stimulation by 0.5 to 1.5 m monovalent salts and by 0.1 m divalent salts. Above these concentrations, inhibition of enzyme activity is observed. The inhibitory effect, and to some extent the stimulation, is salt-specific; the effectiveness of a salt in inhibiting enzyme activity depends on both cation and anion. Thus, the order of effectiveness is MgCl(2) > LiCl > NaCl > KCl > NH(4)Cl, and LiCl > LiNO(3) > Li(2)SO(4). The magnitude of enzyme inhibition for the salts tested is positively correlated with their molar vapor pressure depression in aqueous solution. Stimulation of enzyme activity was observed when one salt was added at its optimal concentration in the presence of inhibiting concentrations of another salt, indicating that the effect on the enzyme is not due to changing water activity but probably to enzyme-salt interaction. Aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol, glycerol, and dimethyl sulfoxide containing no ions influence enzyme activity in the same manner as do salts.