Characteristics of extracellular protein production by Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus during aerobic and anaerobic growth.

Aerobic cultures of Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus characteristically achieved about 17 times higher bacterial densities and produced about 7 times higher concentrations of exoprotein than did anaerobic cultures. However, total exoprotein secreted per unit of bacterial dry weight typically was 2.3 times greater for anaerobic cultures. As determined by SDS-PAGE, anaerobic cultures also produced a wider variety of exoproteins than did aerobic cultures. Three exoenzymes, a staphylolytic endopeptidase, a micrococcolytic hexosaminidase and a thiol protease, were completely repressed during anaerobic growth, which is further evidence for coordination of their production.