The Extracellular Bacteriolytic Enzymes of a Species of

SUMMARY: A bacteriolytic protease produced by a species of Streptomyces is activated by manganese and other metals. This enzyme digests autoclaved Bacterium coli but not autoclaved Staphylococcus aureus, though it does digest ‘proteins ’ extracted from staphylococci with hot alkali. A ribonuclease is produced by the Streptomyces sp. but it apparently takes no part in the lysis of Staph. aureus. During lysis autoclaved Bact. coZi do not disintegrate but progressively diminish in size. Culture filtrates of actinomycetes are known to lyse heat-killed bacteria, Gram-negative organisms being far more readily lysed than Gram-positiv