STUDIES ON BACTERIAL ENZYMES : VII. LACTASE AND LIPASE OF THE COLON BACILLUS.

Colon bacilli possess endocellular heat-labile lactase and lipase enzymes which remain operative in sterile filtered solutions of the intracellular substances obtained through physical disintegration the bacillary bodies. The demonstration of the lactase and detection of the hexose products of its action constitute experimental evidence that hydrolysis of the disaccharide is the first step in the fermentation of lactose by colon bacilli.