Exoenzymes of Propionibacterium acnes

Thirty strains of Propionibacterium acnes were grown in basal salt medium containing lecithin as a lipid substrate and in other media. The cultures were assayed for production of lipase (measured as fatty acid esterase) and other exoenzymes. Lipase was assayed spectrophotometrically; other enzymes were assayed using the API ZYM system (Analytab Products Inc., Plainview, NY). Substance for lipase were alpha- and beta-naphthol esters of propionic, butyric, valeric, caprylic, lauric, myristic, and oleic acids. All strains showed fatty acid esterase activity. Using the API ZYM system 19 enzymes were detected, 8 of which were found frequently and had high activity in most strains. Acid and alkaline phosphatases, phosphoamidase, ester lipase, trypsin-chymotrypsin-like proteases, beta-glucuronidase (80%), beta-galactosidase (80%), and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were found. Many enzymes of P. acnes appear to be adaptive, dependent on the culture substrate.