Intracellular peptidoglycan hydrolases of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris XL-1.

A system of intracellular peptidoglycan hydrolases of Xanthomonas campestris XL-1 comprises about 10 enzymes of different localization and substrate specificity. Seven enzymes (A(1)-A(7)) are localized in cytosol, one enzyme (A(8)) in periplasm, and two enzymes (A(9), A(10)) were found in the fraction of cell walls and membranes. While the culture is entering the logarithmic growth stage from the stationary stage, a change occurs in the activity of the cytosolic enzymes: A(1) significantly increases, and A(5) and A(6) decrease. The spectrum of cytosolic enzymes also depends on the growth medium composition. The enzyme A(7) present in cells secreting extracellular enzymes (medium 5/5) was not found in non-secreting cells (LB medium). Unlike extracellular enzymes, intracellular peptidoglycan hydrolases are primarily acidic proteins. The data indicate that the system of intracellular peptidoglycan hydrolases of X. campestris is under complex and strict regulation.