Lytic Enzyme toward Aniline-assimilating Rhodococcus erythropolis AN-13: Screening and Production

A bacterial strain, SH-548, that produces a lytic enzyme toward intact cells of aniline-assimilating Rhodococcus erythropolis AN-13, was isolated from soil. The isolated bacterium was identified as a Flavobacterium species. The growth conditions for the enzyme production by Flavobacterium sp. SH-548 were examined; organic nitrogen compounds, such as meat extract and Polypepton, were effective for its production. The lytic enzyme of this strain lysed intact cells of Rhodococcus, Bacillus, Nocardia, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Cellulomonas and DAB (diaminobutyric acid)-type coryneform bacterial strains. However, it did not act on those of Staphylococcus aureus or gram-negative bacteria, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus or Pseudomonas strains. Bacterial strains having cell walls of the glycolyl type were readily lysed by this enzyme.