Bacterial Degradation of Heparin

Abstract

A SOIL bacterium has been isolated in pure form by repeated transfers on a liquid medium which contained 0.1 per cent heparin, 0.1 per cent ammonium sulphate, and trace amounts of magnesium, calcium, manganese, ferrous iron and molybdate in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH. 7.4) and on silica gel plates with a similar medium evaporated on the surface. The organism is an aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore forming, very small, motile rod which had been identified as a Flavobacterium. It is able to use heparin as its sole source of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, although its growth is enhanced by the addition of small amounts of glucose and ammonium sulphate. Optimum growth occurs at pH 6.5 and 24°; the bacterium will not grow at 37° and its growth is inhibited by carbon dioxide and agar (when grown on heparin). When grown on heparin silica gel plates the bacteria form clear, lemon-yellow, round, microscopic colonies ; on trypticase–phytone agar plates the colonies are larger and dark orange-yellow in colour.