Lecithinase

Lecithinase is a type of phospholipase that acts upon lecithin.[1][2]

It can be produced by Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Listeria monocytogenes. C. perfringens alpha toxin (lecithinase) causes myonecrosis and hemolysis. The lecithinase of S. aureus is used in detection of coagulase-positive strains, because of high link between lecithinase activity and coagulase activity.

  1. ^ Hanahan DJ (April 1954). "The site of action of lecithinase A of lecithin". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 207 (2): 879–84. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)65705-9. PMID 13163073.
  2. ^ Sibinovic KH, Brown FA, Pettigrew KD, Vought RL (January 1971). "Lecithin-agar assay for lecithinase antibodies in serum". Applied Microbiology. 21 (1): 98–103. doi:10.1128/am.21.1.98-103.1971. PMC 377125. PMID 4322282.