Induction of acid phosphatase and cholinesterase activities in Ps. aeruginosa and their in-vitro control by choline, acetylcholine and betaine

Choline, acetylcholine and betaine used as a sole carbon source, effectuate in Ps. aeruginosa an acid phosphatase activity in addition to a cholinesterase activity. Induction of both enzyme activities was repressed by succinate or glucose. Cyclic AMP failed to relieve the repression produced by these compounds. Substrates not related to choline and used as a sole source of carbon, were inefficient to produce induction of both enzymes. The in-vitro action of choline, acetylcholine and betaine on Ps. aeruginosa acid phosphatase and cholinesterase has also been studied. To perform these studies periplasmic extracts obtained by EDTA-lysozyme treatment of the cells grown on choline or betaine as sole source of carbon, were used. Acid phosphatase activity was competitively inhibited by betaine, whereas the inhibition produced by choline and acetylcholine showed competitive and noncompetitive components. Cholinesterase activity was noncompetitively inhibited by betaine. At low acetylthiocholine concentration choline was an inhibitor of cholinesterase, whereas at high substrate concentration choline raised the hydrolysis rate of acetylthiocholine. These findings allow the conclusion that acid phosphatase and cholinesterase are specifically induced by choline and its metabolites derivatives. Kinetic results led us to postulate that acid phosphatase and cholinesterase contain a similar allosteric site. This site would either be of an anionic nature or show affinity to a methyl group or display both characteristics.