抄録
1. The analysis based upon enzyme kinetics was made on the mechanism of hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes by Clostridium perfringens α-toxin (phospholipase C).
2. The mechanism of substrate breakdown which led to hemolysis was shown to be
M+S_??_MS
E MS_??_E'
E'+MS_??_MS_??_E'+MP (or E'+M+P)
a. When the substrate concentration was reduced to a critical value, the hemolytic reaction seemed to begin.
b. The induction period was composed of two latent periods t1 and t2. The lag t1 was independent of, while the lag t2 was inversely proportional to, the enzyme concentration.
3. When excess antitoxin was added to the reaction medium before E'MS was formed, a complete inhibition occurred, while a partial inhibition was observed when it was added after E'MS was formed.
In the presence of Ba_??_, the lag t1 was not affected while the lag t2 was prolonged. The apparent rate constant K was decreased in the presence of Ba_??_.
5. A new method for calculation of HDso was presented.
The author is indebted to Dr. R. Murata, Chief of the Department of Bacteriology II, the National Institute of Health, and Dr. D. Mizuno, Professor of the University of Tokyo for their helpful advices.
He is also indebted to Dr. H. Kusama for the gift of antistreptolysin O serum and wishes to express his thanks to Dr. A. Yamamoto, Dr. M. Miwa and Miss M. Tsukamoto, of the Department of Bacteriology II, the National Institute of Health, for their useful collaborations.
