Lecithin-splitting enzyme of Vibrio E1 Tor

IT was known that Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio E1 Tor excrete a lecithin-splitting enzyme in their culture medium^1-3, but the nature of this enzyme was not properly ascertained. The present communication is concerned with the characterization of the enzyme excreted by Vibrio E1 Tor with special reference to some of its important properties. The enzyme was isolated from the culture filtrate of the organism, which was grown aerobically in surface cultures using peptone-water medium for 48 hr. The culture filtrate was fractionated by ammonium sulphate and the precipitate obtained between 50-75 per cent saturation contained all the enzyme activity. This was dissolved in 0.01 M phosphate buffer and after dialysis against the same buffer was kept frozen at - 15° C. for about four weeks, up to which time no loss of enzyme activity has been noticed. Addition of glycerol is not necessary for its storage.