Zymolyase^®, produced by a submerged culture of Oerskovia xanthineolytica, has strong lytic activity against living cell walls of various strains of yeast cells. Hence, it is frequently used in order to produce protoplasts or spheroplasts. The essential enzyme for the lytic activity of Zymolyase^® is β-1,3-glucan laminaripentaohydrolase. It hydrolyzes linear glucose polymers with β-1,3-linkages and releases specifically laminaripentaose as the main and minimum product unit.

Other confirmed side activities: β-1,3-glucanase, protease, mannanase; occasionally traces of other hydrolytic activities (e.g. amylase, phosphatase).Stability: At 30 °C 70 % of the lytic activity is lost after 3 months. Optimum temperature and pH: at pH 7,5 - 35 °C for lysis of viable yeast cells, at pH 6,5 - 45 °C for hydrolysis of yeast glucan.

One unit of lytic activity is defined as the enzyme amount causing a decrease of 30 % in absorbance at 800 nm using 6 mg Brewer’s yeast as substrate in Phosphate buffer (pH 7,5) at 25 °C. Lytic activity varies depending on the particular yeast strain, the growth stage of the yeast, and cultural conditions.

Zymolyase^® 20T is prepared by ammonium sulfate precipitatation.