To increase the effectiveness of protein or nucleic acid extraction, the enzyme lysozyme is utilized to break down bacterial cell walls. The capacity to harm bacterial cell walls is what defines the lysozyme (muramidase) family of enzymes, which exhibits antimicrobial action. The mechanism of action of the enzyme involves the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages, which are found in peptidoglycans and chitodextrins, between the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues and N-acetylmuramic acid group. Gram-negative bacteria like Shigella and Salmonella can also be more easily lysed with the help of hen egg white lysozyme, although gram-positive bacteria are more easily lysed with it. Addition of lysozyme along with nucleases like DNase I specifically enhances E. Coli lysis.