Purification, characterization, antibacterial activity and N-terminal sequencing of buffalo-milk lysozyme

J Dairy Res. 2002 Aug;69(3):419-31. doi: 10.1017/s002202990200554x.

Abstract

Lysozyme from buffalo milk was purified to homogeneity and its N-terminal amino acid sequence, biochemical properties and antibacterial spectrum were determined. The purification procedure, comprising ion-exchange chromatography using CM-cellulose and size-exclusion chromatography using Sephadex G-50, conferred 8622-fold purification and 39.3% recovery of lysozyme. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and native PAGE. Immunological purity of lysozyme preparation was confirmed by immuno-electrophoresis. Molecular weight of buffalo-milk lysozyme as determined by SDS-PAGE was 16 kDa and its amino acid composition was determined by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sequence of 23 amino acid residues at the N-terminal end showed 56.5% homology with bovine milk lysozyme and 30.4% with equine milk lysozyme. The specific activity of buffalo milk lysozyme was ten-times that of bovine milk lysozyme. Buffalo-milk lysozyme was active over a wide range of pH and its activity was strongly influenced by molarity of the medium. Antibacterial activity of buffalo-milk lysozyme was determined against 11 species of bacteria; out of seven Gram-positive bacteria tested, four were inhibited, while Gram-negative bacteria were resistant.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Buffaloes*
  • Chromatography, Gel / veterinary
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / veterinary
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange / veterinary
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / veterinary
  • Female
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Immunoelectrophoresis / veterinary
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Milk / enzymology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Muramidase / chemistry
  • Muramidase / isolation & purification*
  • Muramidase / pharmacology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Muramidase