Abstract
Summary
1. The amino acid oxidation by Staphylococcus aureus and the rough white dissociate Staphylococcus albus has been studied. 2. Glycine, serine, and alanine are oxidized in the same fashion by both forms. 3. Staphylococcus aureus exhibits optical specificity in its oxidation of proline, in that only the natural isomer is attacked. After dissociation, the optical specificity is lost and both isomers are equally oxidized, but the extent is not as great as by the undissociated form. The optical specificity with regard to histidine is maintained after dissociation, but the extent of the oxidation is much reduced.
I wish to express my thanks to Doctor D. S. Martin of the Department of Bacteriology and to Doctor Frederick Bernheim of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of Duke University Medical School for their constant help and advice throughout the course of this work.
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