Release of Saccharifying Amylase from Lysing Bacterial Cell

Abstract

Many interpretations on how enzymes are released from microbial cell have al ready been proposed. But despite the importance of the problem, the conclusive theory is very far from being known, and much is done for discussion in connection _ with this subject. For example, Nomural2> and his colleagues published voluminous papers on the a-amylase liberating mechanism in Bacillus subtilis group concluding that the enzyme release is caused by cell autolysis. Pollock3~, in his profound work ,. expressed his criticism on Nomura's opinion. Also Yamamoto4~ did not align himself with Nomura in this point of view. One of us, Fukuoka isolated from a starch pool a strain of gram variable rod,, actively hydrolysing starch into glucose. As we have observed in this strain distinct autolysis in the course of amylase production, we have intended to see whether lysis of the cell is causative of amylase release or not.