Final answer:
Streptokinase is an exoenzyme that allows bacteria to spread by breaking down fibrin clots. It converts plasminogen to plasmin to digest the clots, as seen with Streptococcus pyogenes. Caseinase, phospholipases, and amylase serve other functions such as degrading proteins, cell membranes, and carbohydrates respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
An exoenzyme that breaks down fibrin clots, allowing bacteria to spread, is streptokinase. This enzyme works by triggering the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, which plays a critical role in the digestion of fibrin clots. By doing so, streptokinase helps bacteria escape from the clots and spread throughout the body. An example of this can be seen with the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, which produces streptokinase to facilitate its spread. Other Enzyme Functions are
- Proteases such as caseinase are extracellular enzymes that degrade proteins like casein, which can be used to identify certain pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Phospholipases degrade cell membranes, aiding pathogens in escaping phagosomes, whereas nucleases like DNAse degrade extracellular DNA to promote the spread of bacteria such as S. aureus.
- Amylase is involved in the digestion of carbohydrates, as seen with pancreatic amylase, which functions in the digestive system.