Abstract
An enzyme which degrades yeast glucan and yeast cells in the logarithmic phase of growth (log yeast cells) and produces protoplasts from log yeast cells has been crystallized from the culture filtrate of a strain belonging to Fungi Imperfecti.
Analyses by ultracentrifugation and disc gel electrophoresis showed the crystalline enzyme to be homogeneous. Its molecular weight was found to be 24, 500. The hydrolysis of laminarin, pachyman and yeast glucan was catalysed by the enzyme to produce a mixture of laminaridextrins. The conversion of log yeast cells to protoplasts was obtained by the addition of only this enzyme, the addition of mercaptoethanol or phosphomannanase to the enzyme promoted the conversion.
