Application

Provides gentle cell lysis for the isolation of easily degradable biomolecules and RNA from bacteria. It has been used in the formation of spheroplasts for isolation of DNA.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Mutanolysin is an N-acetylmuramidase. Like lysozyme, it is a muralytic enzyme that cleaves the β-N-acetylmuramyl-(1→4)-N-acetylglucosamine linkage of the bacterial cell wall polymer peptidoglycan-polysaccharide. Its carboxy terminal moieties are involved in the recognition and binding of unique cell wall polymers. Mutanolysin lyses Listeria and other Gram-positive bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Lactococcus.

General description

Mutanolysin from Streptomyces globisporus consists of two main lytic enzymes and may be a useful agent for dental caries control.

Other Notes

View more information on enzymes for complex carbohydrate analysis at www.sigma-aldrich.com/enzymeexplorer

Physical form

Lyophilized powder containing Ficoll and sodium succinate buffer salts

Preparation Note

Prepared from M 9901

Unit Definition

One unit will produce a δA₆₀₀ of 0.01 per minute at pH 6.0 at 37 °C in a 1 mL volume using a suspension of Streptococcus faecalis cell wall as substrate.