Open AccessExtracellular proteolytic activation of bacteriolytic peptidoglycan hydrolases of Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus
Author(s) -
Neumann Veronica C.,
Heath Harry E.,
LeBlanc Paul A.,
Sloan Gary L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06321.x
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , protease , extracellular , lysis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , enzyme , biovar , secretion , proteolytic enzymes , biochemistry , gene
Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus secreted two bacteriolytic peptidoglycan hydrolases as proproteins that were activated as they were processed by an extracellular sulphydryl protease. This processing resulted in the production of multiple molecular‐mass forms of each enzyme. Cells from early exponential phase cultures were susceptible to lysis by the mature forms of each of the peptidoglycan hydrolases whereas stationary phase cells were resistant. Thus secretion of these bacteriolytic enzymes during early exponential growth as precursors that are activated later by the protease would provide time for the cells to become resistant.