Immobilization and treatment of Streptococcus faecalis for the continuous conversion of arginine into citrulline.

Citrulline is one of the steps of the arginine dihydrolase system of Streptococcus faecalis. We have shown that the bacteria, immobilized in polyacrylamide gel and treated with Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) or heat, were able to convert arginine to citrulline. Used continuously in a column reactor, the entrapped cells have a stable enzymatic activity for at least 30 days at 45 degrees C.