Complementary Characterization of a Hyaluronic Acid Splitting Enzyme from Streptococcus agalactiae

A hyaluronic acid splitting enzyme of Streptococcus agalactiae was characterized by splitting mechanism, Michaelis-constant and inhibition type for sulfated hyaluronic acid: The enzyme splits hyaluronic acid as a hyaluronate lyase [EC 4.2.2.11. The K m = 8 × 10 −4 mg ml −1 was determined with the influence of substrate inhibition constant K iu = 2 × 10 −6 mg ml −1. Sulfated hyaluronic acid inhibits the enzyme in a partially non-competitive way. The inhibition constant is K i = 5.47 × 10 −4 mg ml −1. The GBS-hyaluronate lyase cleaves hyaluronic acid as an endoglycosidase. The work is related with the intention to establish a hyaluronate lyase of microbial origin as a therapeutical enzyme replacing bovine hyaluronidase.