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. 1980 Apr;142(1):15–20. doi: 10.1128/jb.142.1.15-20.1980

Creatinine metabolism in Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus bacillisporus.

I Polacheck, K J Kwon-Chung
PMCID: PMC293892  PMID: 6989801

Abstract

The pathogenic species of Cryptococcus, C. neoformans and C. bacillisporus, utilized creatinine as a source of nitrogen but not of carbon. Chromatographic and autoradiographic studies suggest that creatinine metabolism in both species involves a single step resulting in the production of methylhydantoin and ammonia. The enzyme responsible for this step, creatinine deiminase, was produced by the cells only in the presence of creatinine in both species. The synthesis of creatinine deiminase was repressed by ammonia in C. neoformans, but not in C. bacillisporus. A possible explanation for this variation, based on the ecological differences between the two species, is discussed. A novel method for measuring creatinine deiminase activity is also described.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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