Design and Use of Enzyme Systems for Selective Product Release from Microbial Cells

This paper describes the characteristics, production and use of enzyme systems with lytic activity against yeast and bacterial cells. Factors affecting enzymatic lysis including the sequential protease and glucanase degradation of the two-layered yeast wall and the obtention of sufficiently high lytic activities are analyzed. The advantages of using enzyme systems as well as their design and actual processes for the controlled lysis and selective product release (concept of a “Biochemical Cell Refinery”) are discussed.