STUDIES OF A BACTERIOLYTIC ENZYME OF ARCHANGIUM VIOLACEUM (MYXOBACTERIALES) .I. ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN VIVO UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS

Three different types of enzyme activities could be shown in the medium of Archangium violaceum cultures: a bacteriolytic one, one which lyses yeasts and proteolytic ones. The production of these enzymes varies among the strains examined. We found three types of them: one lysing yeasts as well as bacteria, one active only against bacteria and one that was lytically inactive. The bacteriolytic activity is dependent on the phase of growth and decreases when the culture reaches the stage of slower growth. The enzyme production is within a wide range independent of the pH of the medium. Archangium violaceum is able to alter the pH of the medium in both directions up to ±0.4. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.