Study of 3-Ketosteroid Dehydrogenase System Using Whole-cell-enzyme from Arthrobacter simplex

A new assay method for delta-l-dehydrogenated-3-ketoco-rticosteroid in the presence of proteinous material or whole-cell-enzyme and 3-ketocorticosteroid has been developed. This method makes use of the linear relationship between the ratio of absorbances at 265 nm and at 242 nm and the fractional concentration of delta-1-3-ketosteroid. Theoretical values were calculated based on the absorbances of proteinous material at fixed concentrations of the 3-ketosteroid and delta-1-dehydrogenated-3-ketosteroid. The values obtained experimentally showed good agreement with the values obtained experimentally showed good agreement with the values theoretically predicted. The new assay method developed for the steroid mixtiure containing proteinous material is of some practical importance. The use of such assay method enables one to determine the enzyme activity and the rate of enzyme reaction or conversion rather quickly, easily and accurately. By the use of this assay method, the reaction kinetics of whole-cell-enzyme has also been studied. It was found that it followed the simple Michaelis-Menten type enzyme kinetics. Also the reversibility of this reaction with actively metabolizing cell was examined. It was found that delta-l-dehydrogenated-3-ketosteroid could not be hydrogenated reversibly to 3-ketosteroid by this enzyme system.