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The Wonders of Lysozyme: A Natural Antimicrobial Powerhouse

Lysozyme is a naturally occurring enzyme that plays a critical role in the body's defense mechanisms against microbial infections. Often described as one of nature's most efficient antimicrobial agents, lysozyme is found in various bodily fluids such as saliva, tears, mucus, and human milk. Its function as a first line of defense against bacterial pathogens has made it a subject of interest in both basic and applied microbiology, as well as in pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

Creative Enzymes is a leading global supplier of enzymes, including high-quality lysozymes. In this article, we will explore the scientific properties of lysozyme, how it works, its role in human health, and its potential therapeutic uses.

Structure of lysozyme C.Figure 1. Lysozyme C (Gallus gallus).

The Biochemistry of Lysozyme

Lysozyme is an enzyme belonging to the class of hydrolases, specifically the glycoside hydrolases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds. It is a relatively small protein, approximately 14.5 kDa in size, and consists of a single polypeptide chain folded into a compact structure. It was first discovered in 1922 by Alexander Fleming, the same scientist renowned for his discovery of penicillin. However, lysozyme was initially found to possess antimicrobial properties long before antibiotics became widely used.

The enzyme primarily acts by breaking down the cell wall of certain bacteria. The bacterial cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan, a polymer made up of sugar chains cross-linked by short peptides. Lysozyme cleaves the β-1,4-glycosidic bonds between the sugar units of peptidoglycan, thus weakening the bacterial cell wall and leading to osmotic lysis, a process in which the bacterial cell bursts due to an imbalance of osmotic pressure. This makes lysozyme particularly effective against Gram-positive bacteria, which have a thick peptidoglycan layer, though it can also act on some Gram-negative bacteria under specific conditions.

Reaction catalyzed by lysozyme.Figure 2. Overview of the reaction catalyzed by lysozyme.

Sources of Lysozyme

Lysozyme is present in various biological fluids, highlighting its essential role in immune defense. Some of the most notable sources include:

In addition to its presence in the human body, lysozyme is also found in other organisms, including animals, plants, and some bacteria. For example, hen egg white is one of the richest natural sources of lysozyme, with the enzyme constituting around 3.5% of the total protein content. → Lysozyme from Chicken Egg White

The most studied lysozymes are hen egg white lysozyme and human lysozyme.Figure 3. Human lysozyme and HEWL are the most known and characterized among c-type lysozymes. (Crystal structure of hen egg white lysozyme: 5B1F; crystal structure of human lysozyme: 7XF6.) (Bergamo and Sava, 2024)

Mechanism of Antimicrobial Action

Lysozyme's primary antimicrobial mechanism revolves around its ability to hydrolyze the β-1,4-glycosidic bond between N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), which are the main building blocks of the peptidoglycan layer in bacterial cell walls. By cleaving this bond, lysozyme disrupts the structural integrity of the bacterial cell wall, rendering the bacteria more susceptible to external stresses, including osmotic pressure changes. This leads to cell rupture and eventual death, particularly in Gram-positive bacteria where the peptidoglycan layer is thick and critical for cell stability.

However, lysozyme's action is not restricted to just breaking down the cell wall. It also has an ability to influence bacterial behavior by:

Moreover, some studies suggest that lysozyme might possess additional modes of antimicrobial action, such as disrupting bacterial biofilms. Biofilms are clustered communities of bacteria that are encased in a protective extracellular matrix, making them resistant to many conventional antibiotics. Lysozyme's ability to degrade components of the biofilm matrix gives it a potential role in the treatment of chronic infections associated with biofilm formation, such as those found in cystic fibrosis, chronic wounds, and device-related infections.

Antibacterial mechanisms of lysozyme.Figure 4. Lysozyme is antibacterial through these two mechanisms. The peptidoglycan(PG) skeleton of bacterial cell wall is connected by NAG and NAM through peptide stem, and then anchored on the cell membrane (purple) through lipid carrier. Lysozyme (golden yellow) hydrolyzes the interaction between NAG and NAM on PG β-1,4 glycosidic bonds, leading to bacterial cell wall instability and bacterial death. Secondly, lysozyme (golden yellow) can form pores on negatively charged cell membrane by using its own cation mechanism to achieve sterilization. (Jiang et al., 2021)

Role of Lysozyme in Human Health

Lysozyme is one of the first lines of defense against invading pathogens, and its presence in various bodily fluids underscores its importance in maintaining homeostasis and preventing infections. Here are some of the key roles that lysozyme plays in human health:

Roles of lysozyme: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant.Figure 5. Multiple roles of lysozyme. (Adapted from Zhang et al., 2024)

Clinical and Pharmaceutical Applications of Lysozyme

Given its powerful antimicrobial properties, lysozyme has found a wide range of applications in clinical and pharmaceutical settings. These include:

Recommended Products

Catalog Product Name Source Price
NATE-0433 Native Human Lysozyme Human neutrophils Inquiry
CEFX-025 Human Sputum Lysozyme (Sterilized) Leukocytes in septic human sputum
NATE-0432 Lysozyme (Food Grade) Chicken egg white
NATE-0434 Lysozyme from Human, Recombinant Rice
NATE-4728 Lysozyme from Chicken Egg White Chicken egg white
NATE-4728-1 Lysozyme from Chicken Egg White (Free of DNA Contaminants) Chicken egg white
NATE-1455 Lysozyme 23A from Bacillus subtilis, Recombinant E. coli
NATE-1456 Lysozyme 25A from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Recombinant E. coli
EXWM-3852 Lysozyme /

In summary, lysozyme is a remarkable natural antimicrobial enzyme that plays an indispensable role in the body's defense against bacterial infections. Its ability to target and degrade bacterial cell walls, coupled with its presence in various bodily fluids, underscores its importance in maintaining health. From its natural presence in human saliva and tears to its applications in food preservation and wound care, lysozyme offers a multitude of benefits.

As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise, the exploration of lysozyme as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics holds great promise. While challenges remain in harnessing its full potential, the future of lysozyme-based therapies is bright, offering a natural, sustainable solution to combating bacterial infections.

At Creative Enzymes, we offer high-quality lysozyme products trusted for their purity, consistency, and performance. Whether for research or application, our lysozyme supports innovative, nature-based solutions in the fight against bacterial infections. Contact our team today—we're here to help.

References:

  1. Bergamo A, Sava G. Lysozyme: a natural product with multiple and useful antiviral properties. Molecules. 2024;29(3):652. doi:10.3390/molecules29030652
  2. Jiang L, Li Y, Wang L, et al. Recent insights into the prognostic and therapeutic applications of lysozymes. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:767642. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.767642
  3. Zhang Q, Zhao Y, Yao Y, et al. Characteristics of hen egg white lysozyme, strategies to break through antibacterial limitation, and its application in food preservation: A review. Food Research International. 2024;181:114114. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114114