Studies on Lysosomes Iii . Th~ Effects of Streptolysins 0 and S on the Release O~ Acid Hydrolases ~rom a Granular Fraction O~ Rabbit Liver*

Several agents which cause injury to erythrocytes are also capable of releasing hydrolytic enzymes from lysosomes. The red cell membrane can be disrupted in vitro by exposure to saponin or detergents (1), lecithinase (2), excess vitamin A (3), ultraviolet irradiation (4), or repeated freezing and thawing. These agents and procedures are known to release degradative enzymes, e.g. cathepsins, acid DNAase, RNAase, acid phosphatase, and beta-glucuronidase from lysosomes (5-7). I t appeared likely, therefore, that the extracellular hemolysins elaborated by streptococci, streptolysin O(SLO), and streptolysin S (SLS) could affect lysosomes in ~gtro, and perhaps in ~ivo, as well.