Lytic enzyme produced by Myxococcus xanthus

Abstract

Hart, Beth A. (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.), and Stanley A. Zahler. Lytic enzyme produced by Myxococcus xanthus. J. Bacteriol. 92:1632-1637. 1966.-Strain FBa of Myxococcus xanthus releases into its culture medium an enzyme capable of lysing Micrococcus lysodeikticus cells and of releasing N-acetyl amino sugars from their cell walls. The lysin is stable at pH values near neutrality and at temperatures below 50 C. It lyses a number of bacterial species sensitive to egg-white lysozyme, and fails to lyse lysozyme-resistant species. Sensitivity of M. lysodeikticus cell walls to FBa lysin and to lysozyme is changed in a similar manner by addition and removal of O-acetyl groups. We describe methods for obtaining 190-fold purification of the lysin from culture filtrates, using acetone and ammonium sulfate precipitations and filtration through diethylaminoethyl cellulose. We also describe a gel filtration method for separating the lysin from a protease which is also produced by strain FBa.