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The biodegradative ornithine decarboxylase of Escherichia coli has been purified to apparent homogeneity. At its pH optimum (pH 7.0), the enzyme exists as a dimer of 160,000 molecular weight. Aggregation of the dimer was promoted by lower pH values. The enzyme requires pyridoxal 5'-phosphate for activity. The coenzyme appears to be bound in Schiff base linkage as suggested by spectral studies and inhibition by NaBH4. The following sequence was determined for the coenzyme binding site: Val-His-(epsilon-Pxy)Lys-Gln-Gln-Ala-Gly-Gln. The properties of this enzyme are compared with the other biodegradative amino acid decarboxylases that have been isolated from E. coli.

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