The V8 endoprotease from Staphylococcus aureus hydrolyzes the cyclic lipope
ptide, surfactin, at 100 mu M. The fragmentation lies between the two resid
ues L-Glu1 and L-Leu2 leading to an open-chain lipopeptide. The structure o
f the product arising from the enzymic hydrolysis was established by chemic
al methods and mass spectrometry. The enzyme action has been suggested to b
e likely limited by the aggregation state of the lipopeptide in solution.