Effect of enzymes on the composition and structure of Chromobacterium violaceum cell envelopes.
Cell envelopes of Chromobacterium violaceum were isolated and treated under controlled conditions with trypsin, Pronase, lipase, phospholipase C, lysozyme, and a mixture of enzymes produced by a bacteriolytic Pseudomonas sp. After each enzyme treatment, losses in dry weight, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, 2,6-diaminopimelic acid, and total phosphorus were determined. Electron-microscopic examination of the enzyme-treated envelopes indicated complete or partial loss of envelope rigidity or some envelope fragmentation, or both. Each enzyme hydrolyzed at least one envelope component and liberated several others into the supernatant fluid, where they appeared as nondialyzable particulate components, identified by means of electron microscopy. Unlike the other enzymes, the Pseudomonas sp. enzyme mixture partially liberated all major envelope components except phosphorus, heptose, and 2-keto-3-deoxy octonic acid. In spite of these large losses, the envelopes preserved some features of their integrity and elongated shape.
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D002861:Chromobacterium / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000494:pharmacology; D008049:Lipase / Q000494:pharmacology; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009113:Muramidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000494:pharmacology; D010867:Pimelic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002241:Carbohydrates; D004798:Enzymes; D008055:Lipids; D010867:Pimelic Acids; D010740:Phospholipases; D008049:Lipase; D009113:Muramidase; D014357:Trypsin