RELEASE OF PERIPLASMIC PENICILLIN AMIDASE FROM ESCHERICHIA-COLI BY CHLOROFORM SHOCK

Penicillin amidase is a periplasmic enzyme in Escherichia coli. Conven tionally, the periplasmic enzymes are released into the medium by osmo tic shock which is tedious involving a number of centrifugation steps. The present communication deals with a simple technique for the relea se of penicillin amidase by chloroform shock. Experimental findings sh ow that the periplasmic penicillin amidase does not show any variation by the chloroform treatment. This analysis was also extended to the E . coli cells grown at various concentrations of phenylacetic acid, opt imal concentration of phenylacetic acid plus glucose and lactic acid.