Low Molecular Weight Substrates for Lysozyme

Abstract

Preparation of short chain polymers of N-acetylglucosamine by acid hydrolysis of chitin was undertaken. Separation of the various chain lengths of the hydrolysis breakdown products was done by column chromatography on charcoal-celite with an ethanol solvent. Preparation of the dimer and tetramer of N-acetylglucosaineN- acetylmuramic acid was undertaken by lysozyme digestion of the purified cell walls of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. Separation was again accomplished by chromatography.