PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES 



119 



proteinases were found in cultures of CI. welchii, CI. histo- 

 lyticum, CI. botulinum and CI. septicum; peptidases were 

 present in cultures of all the organisms named in Table 8.1. 

 There may be strain differences with regard to the enzymes 

 formed by a particular species. For example, the proteinase 

 of CI. histolyticum isolated by Maschmann w^as distinguished 

 from that isolated by later workers in not being activated by 

 cysteine. Further investigations revealed that some strains 

 of CI. histolyticum produced both of these proteinases [23]. 



TABLE 8.1 



PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES OF ORGANISMS STUDIED BY MASCHMANN 



The one activated by Fe"^"^ and thiol compounds attacked 

 casein and clupein as well as gelatin, and liberated more 

 carboxyl groups than amino groups, indicating that peptide 

 bonds involving the amino group of proline had been hydro- 

 lysed [28]. The lambda (X) toxin of CI. welchii, purified by 

 Bidwell, is a proteolytic enzyme capable of hydrolysing 

 gelatin, casein, haemoglobin and hide pow^der, but it has no 

 effect on native collagen [10]. It is strongly inhibited by 

 cysteine, and, though there is no evidence that it is activated 

 by Mg"^"*" or Mn"^"^, by citrate. 

 9 



