The Pathway of Creatine Catabolism by Pseudomonas ovalis

SUMMARY: Creatine is oxidized by suspensions of a strain of Pseudomonas ovalis Chester harvested from media containing creatine as main source of carbon and nitrogen. A possible pathway of degradation of at least part of the creatine is: (a) hydrolysis of creatine to sarcosine and urea, (b) oxidation of sarcosine to glycine and formaldehyde, (c) oxidation of the latter products to CO2 and NH3 with considerable concurrent oxidative assimilation. Soluble enzyme preparations catalysing stage (a) were obtained by aqueous extraction of either acetone-dried or toluene-treated organisms. The enzyme for stage (b) was present in the insoluble residue from the latter organisms.