Bacterial lysozymes.

Lysozymes are found in many bacteria that are surrounded by a murein-(peptidoglycan) containing cell wall. Their physiological function for the bacteria is still a matter of debate. On the one hand they can autolyse the cell, on the other hand they may have an essential role during enlargement and division of the cell wall by the controlled splitting of bonds in the murein sacculus. Both beta-1.4-N,6-O-diacetylmuramidase and beta-1.4-N-acetylmuramidases have been described in bacteria. In some cases a modular design of the enzyme has been demonstrated with a catalytic domain and a substrate (murein)-binding and recognition domain consisting of repeated motifs.