1887

Abstract

A phage-associated murein hydrolase activity capable of degrading pneumococcal cell walls was isolated and purified to homogeneity from the phage-induced lysate of an autolysis-defective pneumococcal mutant infected with the bacteriophage Dp-1. Some properties of the enzyme resembled those of the wild-type (host) pneumococcal murein hydrolase: cell walls prepared from ethanolamine-grown pneumococci were resistant to the enzyme; the activity was inhibited by the Forssman antigen and was sensitive to proteolytic enzymes. The phage-associated enzyme was not inhibited by antiserum prepared against the purified pneumococcal murein hydrolase; the activity was stimulated by reducing agents and was partially inhibited by cardiolipin. The subunit molecular weight of the phage-associated enzyme was somewhat smaller (31000) than that of the pneumococcal hydrolase (35000). This appears to be the first description of a phage-associated murein hydrolase activity in pneumococci.

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/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-129-2-489
1983-02-01
2024-10-03
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