Studies on Lysostaphin

Abstract

The bacteriolytic agent lysostaphin has been isolated from the culture supernatant of Staphylococcus epidermidis , NRRL B‐2628 (K‐6‐W1) on the ion‐exchange resin Amberlite IRC‐50. A salt gradient released three enzyme specificities which were further purified to apparent homogeneity. These enzymes, belonging to three different classes, were endo‐β‐ N ‐ acetylglucosaminidase, endopeptidase (glycinase) and N ‐acetylmuramyl‐ l ‐alanine amidase. In contrast to the first two enzymes, the third one was not found to be bacteriolytic per se.