Development of an assay method for cyanide, α-aminonitriles and α-hydroxynitriles for the study of the biological hydrolysis of these compounds

Abstract

From an initial colorimetric method for the assay of cyanide, a technique for the assay of α-aminonitriles and α-hydroxynitriles has been developed. This technique is based on the assay of cyanide resulting from the decomposition of the α-aminonitriles and α-hydroxynitriles under defined pH conditions. This assay technique proved to be sensitive and accurate, and could be used for the assay of these compounds in biological mixtures. Using this assay technique, α-aminonitrilase and α-hydroxynitrilase activity has been demonstrated for an enzyme in Brevibacterium sp.; the K_m and V_max. of the enzyme have been determined for cyanide, α-aminopropionitrile and lactonitrile.