OCTOPINE DEHYDROGENASE IN THE BASILAR MUSCLE OF THE SEA-ANEMONE, METRIDIUM-SENILE

1. 1. Octopine dehydrogenase (ODH) is present in the basilar muscle of Metridium senile at an activity which is at least three orders of a magnitude greater than that of lactate dehydrogenase. 2. 2. ODH in this species appears to be present as a single, electrophoretic form as judged by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. 3. 3. The apparent Km's for l-arginine and pyruvate, as determined using crude, cell-free extracts, are dependent on the respective cosubstrate concentrations. 4. 4. d-Octopine is a potent inhibitor of the octopine-synthesizing, forward reaction. 5. 5. In vitro basilar muscle preparations failed to show a significant increase in conversion of [1-14C]pyruvate to octopine when incubated under conditions of hypoxia or induced muscle contracture. © 1979.