CHARACTERIZATION OF SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE-STABLE STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS BACTERIOLYTIC ENZYMES BY POLYACRYLAMIDE-GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Profiles of the bacteriolytic activities of Staphylococcus aureus culture supernatants, sodium dodecyl sulfate cell extracts, LiCl cell extracts, cell wall extracts, and cell membranes were analyzed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing Micrococcus luteus or S. aureus. A total of 20 distinct bands of bacteriolytic activity could be detected in gels containing M. luteus, 8 of these bands were found in culture supernatants. The sodium dodecyl sulfate cell extracts, the LiCl cell extracts, and the cell membranes each contained 20 bands (P1 to P20), but no activity was found in cell wall extracts. Less bacteriolytic activity could be detected in gels containing S. aureus, although three bands were found in culture supernatants and LiCl extracts and cell membranes contained one major band, P13. Crude cell extracts showed five bacteriolytic bands of which the major bacteriolytic bands were distributed in an identical manner in all 10 strains of S. aureus studied. The effects of chemical and physical factors were determined, and it was shown that iodoacetic acid, Hg2+, and Cibacron Blue 3G-A reduced activity, and an optimum pH for enzyme detection was between 7 and 8. Preincubation at 100°C for 30 min reduced the activity of P1 and P2 bands.