acid-phosphatase and alpha-chymotrypsin

Activities of 19 hydrolases were estimated in cell suspensions of 40 Brochothrix thermosphacta strains, isolated from meat and meat products packaged under various conditions, by using API ZYM® test. These strains produced: acidic phosphatase, esterase C4, esterase/lipase C8, α-chymotrypsin, leucine arylamidase, β-glucosidase and α-glucosidase. The predominating biotype produced only the first four of the listed enzymes. The extracellular lipolytic activity for bromo-chloro-indolyl-caprylate was detected only in culture broth supernatants of 4 strains thereby indicating that esterase/lipase C8 is cell-bound. 13 of the strains displayed proteolytic activity for albumin at 4 °C (0.31-2.07 U) while 9 strains showed this activity at 25 °C (0.11-1.21 U). Only 4 strains digested albumin at both temperatures. Thus the meat spoilage potential of B. thermosphacta strains results not only from digestion of carbohydrates but also from their proteolytic activity.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; alpha-Glucosidases; Aminopeptidases; beta-Glucosidase; Brochothrix; Chymotrypsin; Esterases; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Hydrolases; Lipase; Meat Products; Temperature