Study of the Lytic Activities of Actinomycetes Isolated from Different Soils in Georgia

The lytic activities of 310 cultures from the Collection of Actinomycetes of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, were studied; 18% of these strains appeared capable of lysing yeast cell wall. The active producer of the enzyme was selected. This culture was isolated from chestnut soil in Gardabani raion (Central Georgia). Its cultural–morphological, biochemical, and antagonistic properties allowed the culture to be ascribed to the species Geodermatophilus obseurusLuedemann, 1968. The maximal lytic activity under submerged cultivation conditions, exceeding the activity of Actinomyces griseinusby twofold, was observed during the logarithmic growth phase.     

Purification and properties of a lytic enzyme from the cell wall of Chlorella ellipsoidea C-87

Cell wall lytic activity was detected in the culture medium and cell wall of 1AM Chlorella ellipsoidea C-87. The enzymes of both fractions had their highest activity at pH 5. The lytic activity bound to the cell wall consisted of a polysaccharide releasing enzyme, an exo-type enzyme releasing disaccharide, and glucosidase; but only the polysaccharide releasing enzyme was solubilized by lithium chloride. A polysaccharide releasing enzyme with a molecular weight around 40 kDa was isolated from the culture medium. Hemicellulose is degraded by the polysaccharide releasing enzyme, and the rigid wall by the exo-type enzyme.     

The acquisition and maintenance of cytolytic activity by CD4+ murine T-lymphocyte clones.

The class II MHC antigen-specific CTL clones described in this report lose lytic activity when grown in exogenous rIL-2, but regain lytic activity when rIL-2 is removed from the culture medium. Using this cell model, we have investigated the metabolic activities (i.e., DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis) required for CTL to acquire or down-regulate lytic activity. DNA synthesis inhibitors (hydroxyurea and cytosine-arabinoside) and irradiation did not prevent CTL from gaining lytic activity. However, when protein or RNA synthesis was inhibited, these CTL could no longer acquire lytic activity. Furthermore, evidence showed that continuous RNA and protein syntheses were essential for CTL to exert their lytic function. Studies on cell surface antigen expression of CD3, CD4, Thy-1, and LFA-1 revealed no significant difference of antigen expression between a cloned CTL in its lytic and nonlytic states. Our data suggested that the synthesis of certain proteins and their encoded mRNA are essential for CTL to exert its lytic function and these proteins are not the cell surface antigens involved in CTL-target recognition or binding. Data also indicated that a granule enzyme, serine-esterase, was not involved in the expression of lytic activity in these CTL clones.     

Red Yeast Cell Lysis by Red Yeast Cell Wall Lytic Enzyme and Protease

The purified red yeast cell wall lytic enzyme of Penicillium lilacinum No. 2093 has a potent saccharifying activity against cell walls, but the living cell lytic activity of it is considerably lower than that of the culture filtrate. Therefore, the living cell lytic factors in the culture filtrate were examined. The alkaline protease of Pen. lilacinum played an important role for living cell lysis. The synergistic effect on living cell lysis was also detected, when acid proteases from various origins were combined with the cell wall lytic enzyme. These results indicated that the protein layers of red yeast cell surface inhibited the action of a glycanase,cell wall lytic enzyme, and the protein molecule contributed to retain the rigid structure of the wall.     

Enzymatic lysis of the pseudomurein-containing methanogen Methanobacterium formicicum.

A streptomycete isolated from cow manure produces an extracellular enzyme capable of lysing the pseudomurein-containing methanogen Methanobacterium formicicum. The lytic activity has been partially purified from culture fluid and appears to be a serine protease. Similar lytic activity has been fractionated from pronase. Optimal conditions have been developed for lysis of M. formicicum by commercial preparations of proteinase K. The three lytic enzymes have been partially characterized. The results with the three enzyme preparations tend to confirm that proteolytic enzymes are capable of lysing methanogen cells.     

Spontaneous in vitro evolution of lytic specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones isolated from murine intestinal epithelium

Three long-term clonally derived cytotoxic lines have been established from isolates of murine intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). All three lines were selected for with antigen and represent two allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones and a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted clone specific for a murine minor histocompatibility antigen. On long-term in vitro culture, IEL clones gradually lost antigen-specific lytic activity and simultaneously acquired the capacity to lyse natural killer (NK)-sensitive target cells which, in some cases, required high-level lymphokine activation. Of interest was the finding that, despite changes in lytic specificity, IEL clones remained strictly antigen-dependent for proliferation. A murine CTL clone of splenic origin, which was propagated under culture conditions identical to those used for IEL, did not exhibit changes in lytic specificity, suggesting that acquired changes in IEL function cannot be attributed solely to the influence of in vitro culture. Phenotypic analyses of IEL clones with altered lytic specificity revealed that all lines remained Thy-1+, Lyt-2+, L3T4-, with or without lytic activation by lymphokines. The expression of CT-1, a murine CTL activation antigen, and asialo GM1, a murine NK cell marker, were variable on IEL clones, and their presence did not correlate with the changes in lytic behavior. Collectively, these findings provide evidence, at the clonal level, that at least some NK activity present in isolates of murine IEL may originate from antigen-specific CTL. The data also indicate that, on binding antigen, different signals are conveyed to T cells, resulting in proliferation or target cell lysis.     

Effect of storage conditions on population variability and activity of Streptomyces recifensis var. lyticus

The results of the study on survival and variation of Streptomyces recifensis var. lyticus 2435 producing lytic enzymes are presented. The culture was maintained for 2.5 years under a layer of vaseline oil, at a temperature of -20 degrees C and in lyophilized state. It was shown that irrespective of the storage method strain 2435 preserved its viability. However, the most intensive growth was observed in the lyophilized cultures. During the storage the content of the productive colonies characteristic of the morphological type culture in the population decreased while the number of the low active variants increased. Lyophilization of the strain spores in the sucrose-gelatine medium provided insignificant morphological variation of the culture and preservation of the initial level of its lytic activity against a number of test-microbes except S. aureus and M. lysodeikticus. Storage of the culture under vaseline oil and at a temperature of -20 degrees C resulted in lowering of its lytic activity against all the test-microbes used. For long-term maintenance of Streptomyces recifensis var. lyticus 2435 the method of lyophilization in the sucrose-gelatine medium is recommended.     

Lysis of yeast cell walls. Lytic beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucanase from Bacillus circulans WL-12.

When grown in a mineral medium with yeast cell walls or yeast glucan as the sole carbon source, Bacillus circulans WL-12 produces wall-lytic enzymes in addition to non-lytic beta-(1 leads to 3) and beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucananases. The lytic enzymes were isolated from the culture liquid by adsorption on insoluble yeast glucan in batch operation. After digestion of the glucan, the mixture of enzymes was chromatographed on hydroxylapatite on which the lytic activity could be resolved into one lytic beta-(1 leads to 6)glucanase and two lytic beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucanase was further purified by chromatography over diethylamino-ehtyl-agarose and carboxymethyl cellulose. Its specific activity on pustulan was 6.2 units per mg of protein. The enzyme moved as a single protein with a molecular weight of 54000 during sodium dodecylsulphate electrophoresis in slab gels. Hydrolysis of pustulan went thorugh a series of oligosaccharides, leading to a mixture of gentiotriose, gentiobiose and glucose. The enzyme also produced small amounts of gentiobiose from laminarin and pachyman and on this basis its lytic activity on yeast cell walls,was attribut beta-(1 leads to 3)-linked oligosaccharides were not detected. The lytic beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucanase has an optimum pH of 6.0. Pustulan hydrolysis followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. A Km of 0.29 mg pustulan per ml and a V of 9.1 micro-equivalents of glucose released/min per mg of enzyme were calculated. The enzyme has no metal ion requirement. The lytic beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucanase differs in essence from the non-lytic beta-(1 leads to 6)-glucanase of the same organism by its positive action on yeast cell walls and yeast glucan and its much lower specific activity on soluble pustulan.     

Role of ammonia and calcium in lysis of zoospores ofPhytophthora cactorum byBacillus cereus strain UW85

Cultures and cell-free culture filtrates of the biological control agentBacillus cereus strain UW85 lysed zoospores ofPhytophthora cactorum in vitro. Changes in the ionic composition of the growth medium caused by growth of UW85 account for the lytic activity. UW85 raised the pH, excreted ammonia, and removed calcium from the medium during growth and sporulation. Zoospores lysed when pCa²⁺:pNH₃ was greater than 0.8. The lytic activity was produced in uninoculated growth medium by adding ammonium chloride and base to create a pCa²⁺:pNH₃ ratio similar to that of UW85 culture filtrate.     

Influence of mixed culture conditions on yeast-wall hydrolytic activity of Bacillus circulans WL-12 and on extractability of astaxanthin from the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma

O kagbue , R.N. & L ewis , M.J. 1985. Influence of mixed culture conditions on yeast-wall hydrolytic activity of Bacillus circulans WL-12 and on extractability of astaxanthin from the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 59 , 243–255.
In mixed culture Bacillus circulans WL-12 hydrolysed cell walls of Phaffia rhodozyma and rendered astaxanthin extractable from the yeast. pH control was critical to survival and lytic activity of the bacillus; the optimum range was 6.2–6.8. The optimum range of temperature was 20–24C. Glucose (1–2%) was efficient in minimizing catabolite repression of the lytic enzyme complex of the bacillus. Slow-feeding of glucose improved ultimate yields of lytic enzyme but did not acclerate yeast cell wall modification. A relatively high inoculum level of B. circulans accelerated modification of P. rhodozyma in the mixed culture: when the bacterial inoculum was four times that of the yeast, over 80% of total astaxanthin was extractable in 48 h. High bacterial inoculum size also stimulated yeast autolysis and necessitated early harvest of the mixed culture. Results obtained in shake flasks were duplicated in 5-litre fermentors and suggest that the mixed culture has potential industrial value for producing a biomass containing biologically-available astaxanthin. Extractability of astaxanthin was also achieved when mixed culture filtrate was incubated with pure cultured Phaffia cells. When suitably fortified with nutrients, the filtrate also supported simultaneous yeast growth and modification of the yeast cell walls. A scheme incorporating mixed culture with B. circulans WL-12 and re-use of culture filtrate has been proposed for enzymatic processing of Phaffia rhodozyma for inclusion in animal diets.     

Production and differentiation of NK lineage cells in long-term bone marrow cultures in the absence of exogenous growth factors.

Neither lytic NK cells nor IL-2-responsive NK precursors were produced in myeloid (Dexter) long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC). However, when myeloid LTBMC were switched to lymphoid (Whitlock-Witte) conditions and reseeded ("recharged") with fresh bone marrow cells (BMC), nonadherent cells with NK lytic activity and NK 1.1+ phenotype were produced within 1-2 weeks without the addition of exogenous IL-2 to the cultures. NK- and T cell-depleted BMC proliferated extensively in switched cultures and in 2 weeks generated cells that lysed the NK target YAC-1 but not the LAK target P815. The presence of NK precursors in the cultures was confirmed by reculturing nonadherent cells harvested from recharged LTBMC in fresh medium containing 50 U rIL-2/ml. High levels of NK lytic activity were generated. Sequential expression of NK 1.1 and IL-2 responsiveness followed by lytic activity was demonstrated by harvesting cells early after recharge, prior to the appearance of lytic cells. Elimination of NK 1.1+ cells depleted the ability to respond to IL-2 in secondary culture. Our studies demonstrate that myeloid-to-lymphoid switched LTBMC support the proliferation and differentiation of NK lineage cells from their NK 1.1-, nonlytic progenitors in the absence of an exogenous source of growth factors.     

Kinetics of enzymatic lysis and disruption of yeast cells: I. Evaluation of two lytic systems with different properties

Many microorganisms produce enzymes which lyse the walls of yeasts, fungi, and bacteria. The proportions of different enzyme activities present in the lytic system, their action patterns, synergism, and dependence on inhibitors, constitute the activity profile of the lytic system. Taken together, the activity profile and process conditions for lysis determine the reaction rate and the distribution of products from lysis of any given type of cells. Kinetics of glucan hydrolysis, proteolysis, and lysis of brewer's yeast were compared for two extracellular yeast-lytic enzyme systems with different properties. The enzyme sources used were filtered culture broths from Cytophaga sp. NCIB 9497 grown in batch culture and from Oerskovia xanthineolytica LL-G109, grown under carbon limitation in continuous culture. Rate and extent of cell hydrolysis, and the accumulation of soluble proteins, peptides, and carbohydrates from the lysed yeast cells, are discussed in terms of the activity profiles and potential applications of the two enzyme systems.     

Studies on T cell clonal expansion. II. The in vitro differentiation of pre-killer and memory T cells.

Spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice immunized with a DBA/2 mastocytoma (P815) were harvested at various stages of the immune response and cultured in vitro in the presence and absence of antigen. Killer T cell activity in immune spleens could not be demonstrated until 6 or 7 days after antigen, but spleen cells harvested as early as 3 or 4 days and cultured for 24 hr at 37 degrees C showed significant cytotoxicity. This increased activity was not augmented further by culturing with antigen. "Memory" T cells, whose in vitro differentiation into killer cells required the presence of antigen, could not be demonstrated until 9 or 10 days after alloantigenic stimulation. Once produced, however, these cells persisted for at least 6 months. Memory cells, like killer T cells bound avidly to homologous allogeneic monolayers. There were indications that the memory T cell pool was heterogeneous. On one hand, when cells harvested 10 days after stimulation were exposed to antigen in vitro, their lytic activity increased within 24 hr but showed no further increases when the culture period was extended. In contrast, 45-day-old immune cells showed increasing lytic activity throughout a 4-day exposure to antigen. Augmentation of lytic activity in both cell populations was independent of DNA synthesis through the first 24 hr of culture. Subsequent increases in the activity of 45-day cells was dependent upon cell proliferation. Both the antigen-independent augmentation of lytic activity which followed culturing of immune cells, and the antigen-induced differentiation of memory cells were reversibly inhibited by a series of drugs which raised lymphocyte cAMP levels.     

Bacteriolytic Activity of Enzymes Derived from Streptomyces Species

Streptomyces species H–402 and 1829 possessing high lytic activities against cariogenic streptococci which induce dental plaque and caries, were isolated by the screening from soils and sewers. They were identified as Streptomyces griseus and Streptomyces globisporus respectively. The former strain produced lytic enzyme accompanying spore formation during the surface culture, while the latter strain revealed a high activity in the submerged culture. These enzymes had wide substrate specificity against all groups of cariogenic streptococci. The lytic enzymes may be expected as an useful medicament for the prevention of dental caries.     

Continuous-culture studies of synthesis and regulation of extracellular beta(1-3) glucanase and protease enzymes from Oerskovia xanthineolytica

This article describes the synthesis and regulation of beta(1-3)glucanase and protease enzymes from the cell lytic system of Oerskovia xanthineolytica LL-G109 in continuous culture using different concentrations of carbon source (glucose) and inducer (glucan). These two enzyme activities are the main components of a lytic system capable of lysing and disrupting whole yeast cells; it is subject to catabolite repression by glucose and is induced by yeast glucan. Peaks of beta(1-3)glucanase and protease activity are obtained at dilution rates of between 0.05 and 0.15 h(-1). The glucanase-protease ratio is very high compared to other strains. At dilution rates above 0.15 h(-1) all activities are similar to those obtained in batch culture. The lytic enzyme system appears to contain several beta(1-3)glucanase enzymes. In continuous culture both productivity and enzyme concentrations are greatly in creased when compared to batch culture, 11- and 4.4-fold, respectively.     

Cell surface molecules involved in NK recognition by cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Short-term treatment of cloned mouse cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with interferon (IFN) induces lytic activity for natural killer- (NK) sensitive targets. Extended culture of CTL in high concentrations of interleukin 2 induces promiscuous lytic activity in which state both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant target cells are lysed. Cold-target competition analysis showed that the development of NK activity was associated with the acquisition of binding activity for NK-sensitive but not for NK-resistant targets, whereas the development of promiscuous lytic activity was associated with the acquisition of binding activity for both types of target. Antigen-specific cytolysis was inhibited by antibodies to Ly-2, Ly-5, LFA-1 and to the V region of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR), whereas NK and promiscuous lytic activity in the same cells was resistant to inhibition by anti-Ly-2 and anti-TCR. NK activity was expressed normally against a variant NK-sensitive cell line lacking all MHC antigens. These results show that, in contrast to antigen-specific recognition, the NK and promiscuous lytic activities of CTL are expressed without participation of effector cell Ly-2 and TCR molecules or target cell MHC molecules, and are most likely mediated through novel and distinct receptor systems.     

Purification and Properties of Pectinesterase from Acrocylindrium

The crude enzyme fraction of precipitates resulting from the addition of 70% alcohol to the culture filtrate of A. lunatus was separated by CM-Sephadex and Sephadex G-75 chromatography into 13 fractions having lytic activity for M. radiodurans, M. lysodeikticus and P. radiora. Five of the fractions showed similar lytic activity spectra, but the other fractions were separated by the specificities of their lytic activities. This result indicates that the wide lytic spectrum of the crude enzyme against microorganisms is attributable to the action of many lytic enzymes. All fractions, except for P2-2 fraction (designated as the P2-2. enzyme), contained at least two proteins as determined by disc gel electrophoresis. The P2-2 enzyme was purified 34-fold by rechromatography on Sephadex G-75, and appeared to be homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was able to lyse intact cells of M. radiodurans and M. lysodeikticus without detergent, and those of P. radiora with detergent, but was not able to digest casein.     

Serratia marcescens-Lytic Enzyme Produced by Micromonospora sp. Strain No. 152

A strain of Micromonospora sp. producing a lytic enzyme toward Serratia marcescens was isolated from soil. The lytic enzyme, called 152-enzyme, was purified from the culture filtrate by salting-out with ammonium sulfate, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. The molecular weight of 152-enzyme was 17,000 and the isoelectric point was pH 7.3. The 152-enzyme showed lytic activity toward S. marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis, but was completely intert toward Staphylococcus aureus. The enzyme also showed caseinolytic activity. The lytic and caseinolytic activities of 152-enzyme were maximum around pH 11.0 and at 60°C. Both activities were inhibited by DFP and API-2c. Liberation of amino groups from cell walls of P. aeruginosa by incubation with 152-enzyme suggested that the enzyme was a kind of cell wall-lytic peptidase.     

An enzyme-release assay for the assessment of the lytic activities of complement or antimicrobial peptides on extracellular Toxoplasma gondii

A method is described which allows the evaluation of the membrane lytic activity of either complement or antimicrobial peptides against the extracellular stage of the human protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The assay is based on lacZ transgenic parasites, determining the activity of released cytoplasmic beta-galactosidase into the culture supernatant upon membrane disintegration. This method was used to evaluate the lytic activities of (i) complement which is a natural defense mechanism in infected hosts against extracellular parasites, and (ii) antimicrobial peptides which have not been evaluated against T. gondii before. The results show that the assay provides a simple and convenient way to assess the membrane lytic activity of such compounds and that T. gondii, like other protozoan parasites, is vulnerable to the membrane-lytic effect of antimicrobial peptides.     

Population dynamics of the murine lymphokine activated killer system: precursor frequency and kinetics of maturation and renewal

Abstract The proliferation kinetics and population renewal of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-induced murine lymphokine activated killers (LAK) arising from splenic precursors was studied. Extensive proliferation has been shown to accompany the de novo generation of LAK cytotoxicity. In this report, a thymidine 'hot pulse' suicide technique was employed to examine the sensitivity of LAK progenitors during various time periods following culture initiation. Hot pulse during the first 24 hr of culture resulted in a 30–35% reduction in lytic activity when assayed on day 5. Pulse periods between days 1 and 4 resulted in almost complete inhibition (90–95%) of lytic function when assayed on day 5. Proliferation of LAK progenitors was documented by limiting dilution analysis comparison of splenic precursors and functionally mature LAK cultures. These studies showed a 75- to 80-fold enrichment of LAK progenitors after 3 days culture in rIL-2. By flow cytometric cell cycle analysis, we demonstrated that the number of cells in the S/G₂/M phase increased with the length of rIL-2 culture and represented approximately 40% of the cells by day 4. Finally, we used the rate of decay of lytic activity following irradiation as a factor to define the mean life span of a cytotoxic effector in the absence of cellular input. An exponential decrease to approximately 50% of controls was observed within 8–9 hr after irradiation. Taken together, these results suggest that the LAK system is highly dynamic and requires continuous cellular proliferation for its maintenance.