Spin-label assay for lysozyme.

A spin-label assay for lysozyme, which is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of spin-labeled peptidoglycan, is described. Hydrolysis of this polymer by lysozyme results in sharpening of the esr spectrum. The rate of spectral sharpening is a function of enzyme concentration. When the activities of hen egg-white and human lysozymes are compared by this method, human lysozyme is 3.5 times as active as the hen enzyme. The pH optima for both enzymes are pH 5.0. At this pH, the maximal activity for the hen egg-white lysozyme is observed at an ionic strength of 0.09. This assay is suitable for measuring lysozyme levels in biological fluids. It is a sensitive, continuous assay that measures muramidase activity on a defined substrate.