The occurrence in a strain of Comamonas terrigena of secondary alkylsulphatase activity towards potassium decan-5-yl sulphate is reported. A number of cell-washing and osmotic-shock procedures for releasing bacterial exocytoplasmic enzymes were ineffective in releasing this activity. Primary alkylsulphatases are not present in the organism, nor can their formation be induced under a wide variety of experimental conditions tested.
