Zymolyase-20T is an enzyme preparation from a submerged culture of Arthrobacter luteus which effectively lyses cell walls of viable yeast cells. The primary enzyme in this preparation responsible for lysis of viable yeast cells is ß-1,3-glucan laminaripentaohydrolase. It hydrolyzes glucose polymers at the ß-1,3-glucan linkages releasing laminaripentaose as the principal product.

It is used to lyse living yeast cell walls to produce protoplast or spheroplast of various strains of yeast cells. It may also be used for glucan hydrolysis.

Activators of this enzyme are Dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol and other sulfohydryl compounds (as cystein). The lytic spectrum of this enzyme includes organisms from the following genera: Ashbya, Candida, Debaryomyces, Eremothecium, Endomyces, Hansenula, Hanseniaspora, Kloekera, Kluyveromyces, Lipomyces, Metschikowia, Pichia, Pullularia, Torulopsis, Saccharomyces, Saccharomcopsis, Saccharomycodes, Schwannimomyces and others.

Unit definition: The amount of activity causing a decrease in absorbance at 800 nm of 30%.