Coagulase-negative Staphylococci favor conversion of arginine into ornithine despite a widespread genetic potential for nitric oxide synthase activity.

ABSTRACT: Within ecosystems that are poor in carbohydrates, alternative substrates such as arginine may be of importance to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). However, the versatility of arginine conversion in CNS remains largely uncharted. Therefore, a set of 86 strains belonging to 17 CNS species was screened for arginine deiminase (ADI), arginase, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities, in view of their ecological relevance. In fermented meats, for instance, ADI could improve bacterial competitiveness, whereas NOS may serve as an alternative nitrosomyoglobin generator to nitrate and nitrite curing. About 80% of the strains were able to convert arginine, but considerable inter- and intraspecies heterogeneity regarding the extent and mechanism of conversion was found. Overall, ADI was the

SUBMITTER: Sanchez Mainar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4249236 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature