Bacteriolytic enzymes from Streptomycetes. A review

A study of the bacteriolytic properties of streptomycetes has progressively uncovered the production by these microorganisms of a large number of different enzymes acting upon various bacterial constituents, especially on some of them located in the cell wall. Although the mechanism of the bacteriolysis is far from being completely elucidated at present, it can, however, be stated that, in two instances at least, it can be regarded as an osmotic explosion following upon the destruction of the structure responsible for the rigidity of the cell wall.