UNIQUE SOLVENT STABLE MN2+ ACTIVATED METALLOPROTEASE FROM BACILLUS SP

摘要

The present invention provides a novel metalloprotease enzyme produced from a newly isolated Bacillus strain belonging to the Bacillus cereus group. The enzyme is thermostable (30-50°C) with maximum activity at 60°C. It is stable in a broad pH range (6-9) with a maximum at pH 8. The enzyme activity is enhanced in presence of monovalent (Na+, K+) and divalent (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Hg2+ and Fe3+) metal ions. The maximum enhancement of about 130-165% is observed with Mn2+ and Cu2+. Metalloprotease inhibitors including ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), dithiothreitol (DTT) and ß mercaptoethanol suppressed its activity. The enzyme has gelatinolytic and collagenolytic property along with caseinolytic property. Bacterial collagenolytic proteases have been directly employed in clinical therapy and pathogenesis.