Bacteriolysis by immobilized enzymes

Abstract

Bacteriolytic enzymes produced by Achromobacter lunatus were immobilized in collagen membrane. Intact bacteria such as Pseudomonas solanacearum, Xanthomonas oryzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were lyzed with the bacteriolytic enzyme–collagen membrane. Relative activity of the bacteriolytic enzyme–collagen membrane against Pseu. solanacearum was about 2% of that of native bacteriolytic enzymes. No difference in the optimum pH was observed between immobilized enzymes and native enzymes. The bacteriolytic enzymes in the collagen membrane were stable in the pH range from 4 to 11. The enzyme–collagen membrane was stable against sodium chloride which was an inhibitor of the native bacteriolytic enzymes. Xanthomonas oryzae and Pseu. aeruginosa were continuously lyzed by a reactor containing the rolled bacteriolytic enzyme–collagen membrane.