Gary A. Wilson

Effects of lysozyme on competence for Bacillus subtilis transfection.

Abstract Interactions between lysozyme and populations of Bacillus subtilis which are capable of absorbing high-molecular-weight DNA were studied using bacteriophage O29 DNA. 1. 1. Competence (the ability to absorb DNA) is lost when the lysozyme treatment is extensive enough to convert the cells to protoplasts. However, partial degradation of the cell wall may actually increase the level of competence. The expression of incorporated DNA is not affected in protoplasts. 2. 2. In addition to the ability of lysozyme to alter competence by degrading the cell wall, it can also inactivate DNA. Centrifugation in alkaline sucrose and response to lysozyme inhibitors suggest that the DNA inactivation is not due to nuclease activity. Inactivation of biological activity may be due to binding between DNA and lysozyme since it is reversed by increasing the ionic strength of the medium or denaturing the enzyme.