Vol. 2, Issue 6, Part F (2016)

Abstract
Pterin deaminase is a folate deaminating enzyme has been reported to have antitumour activity against leukemic cell line and melanoma induced in mice. In the present study, a total of twenty five fungal cultures were isolated from soil sample collected in and around the city of Coimbatore district. The diversity of fungal isolates was found to be higher in the cultivated land soil compared to unattended barren land and coconut plantation soils. A rapid plate assay method was used for the first time to screen the pterin deaminase producing fungus using folate as a substrate in modified czapek Dox agar medium. The strain CLS-6 was selected based on the zone of clearance and pink colouration around the zone with a maximum enzyme activity of 40.2 IU/ml and 36.5 mg/ml of protein for further purification and characterization.