lysozymen.
/ˈlʌɪzə(ʊ)zʌɪm/, U.S. /ˈlaɪzəˌzaɪm/ Biochemistry.
Any of various similar enzymes of relatively low molecular weight which are widely found in animal and plant tissues and secretions and which are capable of hydrolysing a particular mucopolysaccharide found in the cell walls of certain Gram-positive bacteria and hence of lysing such bacteria.
ΚΠ
1922 A. Fleming in Proc. Royal Soc. B. 93 306 In this communication I wish to draw attention to a substance present in the tissues and secretions of the body, which is capable of rapidly dissolving certain bacteria. As this substance has properties akin to those of ferments I have called it a ‘Lysozyme’, and shall refer to it by this name throughout the communication.
1934 J. H. Parsons Dis. Eye (ed. 7) x. 144 The tears are not a good culture medium, and though they contain traces of lysozyme, they cannot be regarded as actively bactericidal.
1949 H. W. Florey et al. Antibiotics I. p. v No consideration has been given to antibacterial substances of animal origin, such as lysozyme.
1962 M. Florkin & H. S. Mason Compar. Biochem. III. viii. 413 Ficus lysozyme is different from the egg white enzyme.
1965 A. R. Peacocke & R. B. Drysdale Molecular Basis Heredity xii. 144 Similar studies have been initiated on the genetically controlled structure of the lysozyme produced in bacteria infected by normal and mutant T4 bacteriophage.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1976; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1922