Coagulation autolysis in microorganisms and its relation to coagulase production.

The phenomenon of coagulation autolysis was observed in two model microorganisms, i.e., a bacterial culture and an imperfect fungus. It was characterized by impairment of the cell membranes, followed by condensation and dehydration of the cytoplasm and long-term preservation of the cells in the form of coagulated cytoplasm. In this respect, it was similar to coagulation necrosis of human tissues. The autolysis in the microorganisms was accompanied by increase of their coagulase activity, the substrate specificity of the enzyme rather broad. The coagulase activity of the microorganisms was detected during the culture period between the lag-phase and the exponential growth phase, i.e., the phase of their active growth. It served as a signal to induce biosynthesis of peptidohydrolase and cleavage of proteins. We believe that the phenomenon of coagulation autolysis in these microorganisms is rather typical and can be considered as an adaptative reaction, inducing a cascade of events from synthesis of coagulase to overproduction of peptidohydrolases with proteolytic activity.