Depolymerisation of hyaluronic acid by a bacterial pigment and by pyocyanine

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Abstract
Investigating “flow elasticity” of hyaluronic acid we observed an abrupt decrease in viscosity of the solution, which could not readily be explained.Eventually we found the cause to be an infection by bacteria belonging to the Pseudomonas group different from previously described species. These bacteria produce a water‐soluble greenish‐yellow fluorescent pigment on peptone media at 21° but not at 37°. Growth occurs both at 21° and at 37°, and on autoclaved fish the growth is ample.An aqueous extract of this pigment decreases the viscosity of hyaluronate solutions, synovial fluid and umbilical cord extracts.When the extract is catalytically hydrogenated the depolymerizing power is lost, but by adding hydrogen peroxide the viscosity‐lowering effect is regained.A pronounced difference is observed regarding colour and fluorescence between oxidized and reduced forms of pigment. Spectrophotometric investigations showed a distinct difference between oxidized and reduced forms.Finally it is shown that pyocyanine also depolymerizes solutions containing hyaluronic acid.