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Secretion of staphylocoagulase by Staphylococcus aureus: the role of a cell-bound intermediate

  • Physiology and Growth
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Abstract

A cell-bound staphylocoagulase could be detected in chemostat cultures of Staphylococcus aureus 104 under magnesium- and oxygen-limited growth conditions. A distribution study revealed that 81% of the enzyme was membrane-bound and could be optimally released by Triton X-100. The remaining part was located in the periplasmic space and was released during protoplasting of the organism. From inhibition studies with cerulenin, quinacrine, lincomycin and chloramphenicol, it was concluded that the cell-bound form was a precursor in the secretion of extracellular staphylocoagulase. The involvement of a lipid intermediate/exoprotein- releasing protease system in the secretion of staphylocoagulase, and of exoproteins in general, is discussed.

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Engels, W., Kamps, M.A.F. Secretion of staphylocoagulase by Staphylococcus aureus: the role of a cell-bound intermediate. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 47, 509–524 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443238

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