Lytic enzymes in sporulating Bacillus subtilis

Two specific lytic enzymes were found in sporulating $\text{B. subtilis}$ cells: a N-acetyl muramyl L-alanine amidase and a $\text{γ-D-glutamyl-(L)}\text{meso}$ diaminopimelyl endopeptidase. Both enzyme activities were measured using radioactive synthetic substrates. They are low in vegetative cells and increase during sporulation. The highest rates of increase are concomitant with cortex formation. In a mutant with delayed sporulation enzyme synthesis is also delayed. We suggest that both enzymes play a role in the synthesis of the specific cortex peptidoglycan.