Preparation of metabolically active Staphylococcus aureus protoplasts by use of the Aeromonas hydrophila lytic enzyme.

Stable, metabolically active protoplasts of Staphylococcus aureus have been prepared by the use of a staphylolytic enzyme produced by Aeromonas hydrophila. Respiratory and glycolytic rates and synthesis of nucleic acids, protein, and lipid in these protoplasts, stabilized variously in 1.1 M sucrose, 0.37 M sodium succinate, or 0.37 M sodium sulfate, have been shown to be comparable with the same parameters in intact cells under the same conditions.