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Staphylococcus aureus H autolytic activity: general properties
Journal of Bacteriology
|April 1, 1970
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus strain H has an autolytic activity which can be found in the cell wall but is most easily obtained from high-speed supernatant fractions of broken-cell preparations. As measured either turbidimetrically or radioactively, this activity is much greater on murein extracted from penicillin-treated cells than on murein extracted from normal cells.
Insights
Staphylococcus aureus strain H exhibits autolytic activity, primarily in its cell wall. This activity significantly increases when acting on murein from penicillin-treated cells compared to normal cells.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen.
- Bacterial cell wall autolysis plays a role in cell wall remodeling and antibiotic resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the autolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus strain H.
- To investigate the substrate specificity of this autolytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of autolytic enzymes from high-speed supernatant fractions of broken-cell preparations.
- Measurement of enzyme activity using turbidimetric and radioactive assays.
- Comparison of activity on murein from normal versus penicillin-treated cells.
Main Results:
- Autolytic activity was detected in cell wall fractions but was most concentrated in supernatant fractions.
- The autolytic activity was significantly higher on murein extracted from penicillin-treated cells compared to murein from normal cells.
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcus aureus strain H possesses cell wall autolytic activity.
- This activity is enhanced when targeting murein from cells exposed to penicillin, suggesting a potential mechanism for antibiotic-induced cell wall degradation.