Application

Lyticase from Arthrobacter luteus has been used to lyse the fungal cell wall for DNA isolation.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Lyticase hydrolyzes poly-β(1→3)-glucose such as yeast cell wall glucan.

Yeast cells are difficult to disrupt because the cell walls may form capsules or resistant spores. DNA can be extracted from yeast by using lysing enzymes such as lyticase to induce partial spheroplast formation. Spheroplasts are subsequently lysed to release DNA. Lyticase is preferred to digest the cell walls of yeast and generate spheroplasts from fungi for transformation. It contains β-(1→3)-glucan laminaripentaohydrolase along with β-(1→3)-glucanase, protease, and mannanase activities. Lyticase is used for yeast cells like Candida, Debaryomyces, Saccharomyces, Saccharomycopsis, Saccharomycodes, Eremothecium, and Schwanniomyces species.

Other Notes

View more information on enzymes for complex carbohydrate analysis at www.sigma-aldrich.com/enzymeexplorer

Packaging

50000, 200000 units in poly bottle

10000, 25000 units in glass bottle

Physical form

Partially purified, lyophilized powder containing potassium phosphate buffer salts and stabilizers

Unit Definition

One unit will produce a δA₈₀₀ of 0.001 per min at pH 7.5 at 25 °C, using a suspension of yeast as substrate in a 3 mL reaction mixture.