S U M M A R YL-Asparaginase and L-glutaminase activities were detected in many microorganisms and the distribution of these activities was found to be related to the classification of micro-organisms.Among 464 bacteria, the activities occurred in many Gram-negative bacteria and in a few Gram-positive bacteria. Most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae possessed L-asparaginase. L-Asparaginase and L-glutaminase occurred together in a large proportion of pseudomonads. Among Gram-positive bacteria many strains of Bacillus pumilus showed strong L-asparaginase activity. Amidase activities were also observed in several strains in other families.L-Asparaginase activity was not detected in culture filtrates of 261 strains of species of the genera Streptomyces and Nocardia, but L-asparaginase and Lglutaminase were detected when these organisms were sonicated.The amidase activities in culture filtrates of 4158 fungal strains were tested. All the strains of Fusarium species formed L-asparaginase. Organisms of the genera Hjyomyces and Nectria, which are regarded as the perfect stage of the genus Fusarium, also formed L-asparaginase. Several Penicillium species formed L-asparaginase. Two organisms of the family Moniliaceae formed L-glutaminase together with L-asparaginase, and a few ascomycetous fungi formed L-asparaginase or L-glutaminase.Among I 326 yeasts, L-asparaginase or L-glutaminase occurred frequently in certain serological groups of yeasts : VI (Hansenula) group, Cryptococcus group and Rhodotorula group. Many strains of Sporobolomyces species also showed L-asparaginase activity. Several strains of Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula group possessed L-glutaminase and L-asparaginase. L-Glutaminase alone was formed in many strains of Candida scottii and Cryptococcus albidus, both of which are related to Basidiomycetes.

The present communication describes the determination of amino acid sequence in sur factin as well as optical configuration of four leucine molecules therein.

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