Purification and Characterization of N-Acetylmuramyl-L-alanine Amidase from Streptomyces globisporus 1829

Abstract

The enzyme, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase (mucopeptide aminohydrolase EC 3.5. 1. 18) was found in mutanolysin, which was purified partially from the cultural broth of Streptomyces globisporus 1829. This enzyme was highly purified. The overall purification was 37.5-fold with a yield of 19.2% from mutanolysin. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 18, 500 as determined by plate gel filtration. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu⁺⁺. This enzyme has a preference for substances of lower molecular weight and seems to be dependent on the prior action of a hexosamidase. This enzyme is not bacteriolytic per se.