Partial purification and characterization of phospholipase C from Yersinia enterocolitica

About 34% of the strains of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from raw milk were found to produce lecithinase. A selected strain produced phospholipase C at 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C; production was optimum at 37 degrees C in the stationary phase (14-16 h). A decrease in phospholipase C activity at various storage temperatures (-5 degrees C, 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C) was also observed, although the enzyme was active over a wide range of temperature (5-65 degrees C) and pH (3.5-7.5). The phospholipase C was partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephadex column chromatography, and characterized.