The influence of hydrostatic pressure and pH on the rate of lysis of Micrococcus lysodeikticus by lysozyme

Under the conditions employed, the rate of clearing of washed cell suspensions of Micrococcus lysodeikticus, measured photometrically, is nearly proportional to enzyme concentration and nearly inversely proportional to the initial concentration of cells. With a given amount of lysozyme (usually 1.5 μg./ml.) the density of a cell suspension decreases exponentially with time, until it is reduced to between 20 and 40% of that at the start, followed by a decreasing rate of clearing. Under increased hydrostatic pressures of 4000 and 8000 p.s.i., respectively, the rate of clearing is faster than at normal pressure at various pH's between 5.65 and 8.70, at 35 °C.