The characteristics of extracellular protein secretion by Staphylococcus staphylolyticus

The differential rate of extracellular protein formation by Staphylococcus staphylolyticus, the lysostaphin-producing organism, was biphasic with a low rate of exoprotein secretion during exponential growth and an increased rate during the post-exponential phase of growth. After 20 h, when no further exoprotein was secreted, exoprotein accounted for 5% of the total protein in the culture. The secretion of three extracellular enzymes was monitored and found to represent a constant proportion of total exoprotein at exoprotein concentrations greater than 0.1 mg ml-1.