Properties of the peptidoglycan-degrading enzyme of the ϕPMG1 bacteriophage

The ϕPMG1 bacteriophage was isolated. It is characterized by certain peculiarities of the lytic infection cycle and forms a halo (clear zone) around negative colonies. The phage was studied with regard to its potential use in therapeutic phage preparations and as a source of peptidoglycan- and lipopolysacchraide-degrading enzymes. Partial sequencing of the ϕPMG1 genome revealed a high degree of homology with the D3 moderate bacteriophage. An open reading frame coding for a lytic transglycosylase has been identified in ϕPMG1 genome. The enzyme has been obtained in a recombinant form, and its activity and substrate specificity have been characterized.