Lecithinase activation

Lecithinase is produced by Clostridium perfringens. This is a calcium-dependent lecithinase whose activity depends on the ability to split lecithin. Since lecithin is present in the membrane of many different kinds of cells, damage can occur throughout the body. Lecithinase causes the hydrolysis of erythrocytes and the necrosis of other tissue cells. 

In 1954, Beaufay and de Duve (27) first suggested a relationship between microsomal phospholipid and glucose-6-phosphatase. They observed a loss of enzymic activity from phospholipid-rich microsomal preparations concomitant with extraction with such organic solvents as butanol or treatment with lecithinase. Various studies were carried out to demonstrate that the latter effect was not produced through inhibition of enzymic activity by accumulated products of the hydrolysis of phospholipids. On the basis of their observations that deoxycholate treatment labilized microsomes to phospholipase action, they concluded that . . . the detergent did not exert its primary effect on the dissociation of phospholipids from microsomal protein, but that it probably disrupted... 

Vogel, W.C. and Bierman, E.L. Evidence for in vivo activity of postheparin plasma lecithinase in man. Proc. Soc. 

Figure 8. The nomographs for the determination of 1 % (a) or 10 % (b) residual activities of various enzymes. POD (I) represents isolated peroxidase POD (S), peroxidase in suspension MGLase, monoglyceride lipase DGLase, diglyceride lipase PL-C, phospholipase C PL-D, phospholipase D LCase, lecithinase and Vit. C 90 %, vitamine C as a control for the retention of 90 % active form.

Cl. wdchii produces several extracellular toxins. The most potent of these is dermonecrotic and hemolytic and is lethal for mice and other laboratory animals. Macfarlane and Knight (82) have shown that this a or lethal toxin is an enz3nne which hydrolyzes lecithin to phosphoryl-choline and a diglyceride. The lecithinase is activated by calcium and... 

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