A unique strong fibrinolytic enzyme (katsuwokinase) in skipjack "Shiokara," a Japanese traditional fermented food

Diverse origins of fibrinolytic enzymes: A comprehensive review

Fibrinolytic enzymes cleave fibrin which plays a crucial role in thrombus formation which otherwise leads to cardiovascular diseases. While different fibrinolytic enzymes have been purified, only a few have been utilized as clinical and therapeutic agents; hence, the search continues for a fibrinolytic enzyme with high specificity, fewer side effects, and one that can be mass-produced at a lower cost with a higher yield. In this context, this review discusses the physiological mechanism of thrombus formation and fibrinolysis, and current thrombolytic drugs in use. Additionally, an overview of the optimization, production, and purification of fibrinolytic enzymes and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in optimization and the patents granted is provided. This review classifies microbial as well as non-microbial fibrinolytic enzymes isolated from food sources, including fermented foods and non-food sources, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Despite holding immense potential for the discovery of novel fibrinolytic enzymes, only a few fermented food sources limited to Asian countries have been studied, necessitating the research on fibrinolytic enzymes from fermented foods of other regions. This review will aid researchers in selecting optimal sources for screening fibrinolytic enzymes and is the first one to provide insights and draw a link between the implication of source selection and in vivo application.

Microbial Fibrinolytic Enzymes as Anti-Thrombotics: Production, Characterisation and Prodigious Biopharmaceutical Applications

Cardiac disorders such as acute myocardial infarction, embolism and stroke are primarily attributed to excessive fibrin accumulation in the blood vessels, usually consequential in thrombosis. Numerous methodologies including the use of anti-coagulants, anti-platelet drugs, surgical operations and fibrinolytic enzymes are employed for the dissolution of fibrin clots and hence ameliorate thrombosis. Microbial fibrinolytic enzymes have attracted much more attention in the management of cardiovascular disorders than typical anti-thrombotic strategies because of the undesirable after-effects and high expense of the latter. Fibrinolytic enzymes such as plasminogen activators and plasmin-like proteins hydrolyse thrombi with high efficacy with no significant after-effects and can be cost effectively produced on a large scale with a short generation time. However, the hunt for novel fibrinolytic enzymes necessitates complex purification stages, physiochemical and structural-functional attributes, which provide an insight into their mechanism of action. Besides, strain improvement and molecular technologies such as cloning, overexpression and the construction of genetically modified strains for the enhanced production of fibrinolytic enzymes significantly improve their thrombolytic potential. In addition, the unconventional applicability of some fibrinolytic enzymes paves their way for protein hydrolysis in addition to fibrin/thrombi, blood pressure regulation, anti-microbials, detergent additives for blood stain removal, preventing dental caries, anti-inflammatory and mucolytic expectorant agents. Therefore, this review article encompasses the production, biochemical/structure-function properties, thrombolytic potential and other surplus applications of microbial fibrinolytic enzymes.

Purification, physicochemical properties, and statistical optimization of fibrinolytic enzymes especially from fermented foods: A comprehensive review

Fibrinolytic enzymes are proteases responsible for cleavage of fibrin mesh in thrombus clots, which are the primary causative agents in cardiovascular diseases. Developing safe, effective and cheap thrombolytic agents are important for prevention and cure of thrombosis. Although a wide variety of sources have been discovered for fibrinolytic enzymes, only few of them have been employed in clinical and therapeutic applications due to the drawbacks such as high cost of production, low stability of enzyme or therapeutic side effects. However, the discovery of new fibrinolytic enzymes requires complex purification stages and characterization, which gives an insight into their diverse modes of action. Post-discovery, approaches such as a) statistical optimization for fermentative bioprocessing and b) genetic engineering are advantageous in providing economic viability by finding simple and cost-effective medium, strain development with sufficient nutrient supplements for stable and high-level production of recombinant enzyme. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of different sources, purification techniques, production through genetic engineering approaches and statistical optimization of fermentation parameters as proteases have a wide variety of industrial and biotechnological applications making 60% of total enzyme market worldwide. New strategies targeting increased enzyme yields, non-denaturing environments, improved stability, enzyme activity and strain improvement have been discussed.

A novel fibrinolytic enzyme from marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa KU1 and its rapid in vivo thrombolysis with little haemolysis

A direct acting, extracellular, fibrinolytic enzyme, ~50 KDa from marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa KU1 (PEKU1), was purified. It was found to be a metalloprotease. 60% of the total activity of the purified PEKU1 was retained at 70 °C and the enzyme was practically denatured at 80 °C, 2 h. Metal ions, such as Na⁺, K⁺ and Co²⁺, were found to enhance slightly the fibrinolytic activity, while Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were found to be inhibiting. The enzyme showed only less than 5% haemolysis, suggesting its thrombolytic administration safe. Tryptic digestion revealed its similarity to serralysin like alkaline protease of P. aeruginosa. In silico studies showed its binding of protease substrates and fibrin D-dimer in its active site. High affinity binding of bradykinin to the active site of PEKU1, confirmed by in vitro cleaving, suggested its future use as an analgesic. The purified enzyme with Na⁺, K⁺ and Co²⁺, and without Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ showed thrombolysis in vivo in carrageenan induced murine tail thrombolytic model. The enzyme PEKU1, a novel protease from marine isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa KU1 has great potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent to combat cardiovascular diseases, as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug in appropriate sites.

Cow Dung Is a Novel Feedstock for Fibrinolytic Enzyme Production from Newly Isolated Bacillus sp. IND7 and Its Application in In Vitro Clot Lysis

Bacterial fibrinolytic enzymes find great applications to treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases. The novel fibrinolytic enzymes from food grade organisms are useful for thrombolytic therapy. This study reports fibrinolytic enzyme production by Bacillus sp. IND7 in solid-state fermentation (SSF). In this study, cow dung was used as the cheap substrate for the production of fibrinolytic enzyme. Enzyme production was primarily improved by optimizing the nutrient and physical factors by one-variable-at-a-time approach. A statistical method (two-level full factorial design) was applied to investigate the significant variables. Of the different variables, pH, starch, and beef extract significantly influenced on the production of fibrinolytic enzyme (p < 0.05). The optimum levels of these significant factors were further investigated using response surface methodology. The optimum conditions for enhanced fibrinolytic enzyme production were 1.23% (w/w) starch and 0.3% (w/w) beef extract with initial medium pH 9.0. Under the optimized conditions, cow dung substrate yielded 8,345 U/g substrate, and an overall 2.5-fold improvement in fibrinolytic enzyme production was achieved due to its optimization. This is the first report of fibrinolytic enzyme production using cow dung substrate from Bacillus sp. in SSF. The crude enzyme displayed potent activity on zymography and digested goat blood clot completely in in vitro condition.

Purification and Characterization of a Fibrinolytic Enzyme from Bacillus pumilus 2.g Isolated from Gembus, an Indonesian Fermented Food

Bacillus pumilus 2.g isolated from gembus, an Indonesian fermented soybean cake, secretes several proteases that have strong fibrinolytic activities. A fibrinolytic enzyme with an apparent molecular weight of 20 kDa was purified from the culture supernatant of B. pumilus 2.g by sequential application of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, and hydrophobic chromatography. The partially purified enzyme was stable between pH 5 and pH 9 and temperature of less than 60°C. Fibrinolytic activity was increased by 5 mM MgCl₂ and 5 mM CaCl₂ but inhibited by 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), 1 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The partially purified enzyme quickly degraded the α and β chains of fibrinogen but was unable to degrade the γ chain.

Statistical optimization of fibrinolytic enzyme production using agroresidues by Bacillus cereus IND1 and its thrombolytic activity in vitro

A potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing Bacillus cereus IND1 was isolated from the Indian food, rice. Solid-state fermentation was carried out using agroresidues for the production of fibrinolytic enzyme. Among the substrates, wheat bran supported more enzyme production and has been used for the optimized enzyme production by statistical approach. Two-level full-factorial design demonstrated that moisture, supplementation of beef extract, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate have significantly influenced enzyme production (P < 0.05). A central composite design resulted in the production of 3699 U/mL of enzyme in the presence of 0.3% (w/w) beef extract and 0.05% (w/w) sodium dihydrogen phosphate, at 100% (v/w) moisture after 72 h of fermentation. The enzyme production increased fourfold compared to the original medium. This enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography, and casein-agarose affinity chromatography and had an apparent molecular mass of 29.5 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the activity of fibrinolytic enzyme were found to be 8.0 and 60°C, respectively. This enzyme was highly stable at wide pH range (7.0–9.0) and showed 27% ± 6% enzyme activity after initial denaturation at 60°C for 1 h. In vitro assays revealed that the enzyme could activate plasminogen and significantly degraded the fibrin net of blood clot, which suggests its potential as an effective thrombolytic agent.

Purification and partial characterization of a chymotrypsin-like serine fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FCF-11 using corn husk as a novel substrate

A non-toxic, direct-acting fibrinolytic enzyme, FCF-11, from a newly isolated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FCF-11 was purified, characterized and assayed both in vitro and in vivo for its thrombolytic potential. Corn husk was used as for the first time as the sole carbon/nitrogen source for enzyme production. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 18.2 kDa and purification increased its specific activity 443.5-fold with a recovery of 17 %. Maximal activity was attained at a temperature of 40 °C and pH of 8.0. Additionally the isoelectric point of this protein was 10 ± 0.2. Tosyl lysine chloromethyl ketone, phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, soybean trypsin inhibitor, and aprotinin highly repressed this activity. The presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and two metalloprotease inhibitors, 2,2'-bipyridine and o-phenanthroline, didn't affect the enzymatic activity. Furthermore, it was found to exhibit a higher specificity for the chromogenic substrate S-2586 for chymotrypsin, indicating that the enzyme is a chymotrypsin-like serine protease. Its apparent K(m) and V(max) for the synthetic substrate N-Suc-Phe-pNA were 0.45 mM and 8.26 μmoles/mg/min, respectively. FCF-11 showed direct action upon blood clots in vitro and prolonged the blood clotting time to 4.1-fold, suggesting this enzyme be a beneficial thrombolytic agent especially, with regard with low molecular weight and non specificity to other plasma proteins. FCF-11 could not degrade collagen and was non-cytotoxic to HT29 cells or mammalian erythrocytes. Further, enzyme at a dose of 2 mg/kg was devoid of toxicity as well as hemorrhagic activity on BALB/c mouse model, supporting its suitability for the development of a better and safer thrombolytic drug.

Bafibrinase: A non-toxic, non-hemorrhagic, direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease from Bacillus sp. strain AS-S20-I exhibits in vivo anticoagulant activity and thrombolytic potency

A non-toxic, direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease (Bafibrinase) demonstrating thrombolytic and anticoagulant properties was purified from Bacillus sp. strain AS-S20-I. Bafibrinase was monomeric, with a molecular mass of 32.3 kDa. The peptide mass fingerprinting of Bafibrinase revealed only 8.3% sequence coverage, suggesting it was a novel fibrinolytic enzyme. However, two of the tryptic digested de novo peptide sequences of Bafibrinase demonstrated good similarity with endopeptidases possessing serine in their catalytic triad. Further, catalytic activity of Bafibrinase was inhibited by serine protease inhibitor reinforcing this is a subtilisin-like serine protease. The apparent K(m) and V(max) values of Bafibrinase towards fibrin were determined as 0.24 μM and 2.8 μmol/min, respectively. It showed a K(m) value of 0.139 mM towards a chromogenic substrate for plasmin (D-Val-Leu-Lys-p-Nitroanilide dihydrochloride) and optimum activity at physiological conditions (37 °C and pH 7.4). Based on the cleavage pattern of fibrin and fibrinogen, Bafibrinase may be classified as an α,β-fibrinogenase. Bafibrinase could not degrade collagen and was non-cytotoxic to HT29 cells or mammalian erythrocytes. Further, Bafibrinase at a dose of 2 mg/kg was devoid of toxicity as well as hemorrhagic activity on BALB/c mouse model, supporting its suitability for the development of a better and safer thrombolytic drug. Bafibrinase was also superior to human plasmin in degrading in vitro thrombus. The in vivo anticoagulant nature of Bafibrinase is being explored for the treatment and prevention of thrombosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

Fibrinolytic enzyme from newly isolated marine bacterium Bacillus subtilis ICTF-1: media optimization, purification and characterization

Fibrinolytic enzymes are important in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The present work reports isolation, screening and identification of marine cultures for production of fibrinolytic enzymes. A potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterium was isolated from marine niches and identified as Bacillus subtilis ICTF-1 on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical properties. Further, media optimization using L(18)-orthogonal array method resulted in enhanced production of fibrinolytic enzyme (8814 U/mL) which was 2.6 fold higher than in unoptimized medium (3420 U/mL). In vitro assays revealed that the enzyme could catalyze blood clot lysis effectively, indicating that this enzyme could be a useful thrombolytic agent. A fibrinolytic enzyme was purified from the culture supernatant to homogeneity by three step procedures with a 34.42-fold increase in specific activity and 7.5% recovery. This purified fibrinolytic enzyme had molecular mass of 28 kDa, optimal temperature and pH at 50 °C and 9, respectively. It was stable at pH 5.0-11.0 and temperature of 25-37 °C. The enzyme activity was activated by Ca(2+) and obviously inhibited by Zn(2+), Fe(3)(+), Hg(2+) and PMSF. The purified fibrinolytic enzyme showed high stability towards various surfactants and was relatively stable towards oxidizing agent. Considering these properties purified fibrinolytic enzyme also finds potential application in laundry detergents in addition to thrombolytic agent. The gene encoding fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated and its DNA sequence was determined. Compared the full DNA sequence with those in NCBI, it was considered to be a subtilisin like serine-protease.

Fibrinolysis and anticoagulant potential of a metallo protease produced by Bacillus subtilis K42

In this study, a potent fibrinolytic enzyme-producing bacterium was isolated from soybean flour and identified as Bacillus subtilis K42 and assayed in vitro for its thrombolytic potential. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 20.5 kDa and purification increased its specific activity 390-fold with a recovery of 14%. Maximal activity was attained at a temperature of 40 degree C (stable up to 65 degree C) and pH of 9.4 (range: 6.5 - 10.5). The enzyme retained up to 80% of its original activity after pre-incubation for a month at 4 degree C with organic solvents such as diethyl ether (DE), toluene (TO), acetonitrile (AN), butanol (BU), ethyl acetate (EA), ethanol (ET), acetone (AC), methanol (ME), isopropanol (IP), diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), tosyl-lysyl- chloromethylketose (TLCK), tosyl-phenylalanyl chloromethylketose (TPCK), phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF) and soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). Aprotinin had little effect on this activity. The presence of ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a metal-chelating agent and two metallo protease inhibitors, 2,2'-bipyridine and o-phenanthroline, repressed the enzymatic activity significantly. This, however, could be restored by adding Co2+ to the medium. The clotting time of human blood serum in the presence of this enzyme reached a relative PTT of 241.7% with a 3.4-fold increase, suggesting that this enzyme could be an effective antithrombotic agent.

A simple and cost-saving approach to optimize the production of subtilisin NAT by submerged cultivation of Bacillus subtilis natto

Subtilisin NAT, formerly designated nattokinase or subtilisin BSP, is a potent cardiovascular drug because of its strong fibrinolytic activity and safety. In this study, one Bacillus subtilis natto strain with high fibrinolytic activity was isolated. We further studied the optimal conditions for subtilisin NAT production by submerged cultivation and three variables/three levels of response surface methodology (RSM) using various inoculum densities, glucose concentrations, and defatted soybean concentrations as the three variables. According to the RSM analysis, while culturing by 2.93% defatted soybean, 1.75% glucose, and 4.00% inoculum density, we obtained an activity of 13.78 SU/mL. Processing the batch fermentation with this optimal condition, the activity reached 13.69 SU/mL, which is equal to 99.3% of the predicted value.

Purification and characterization of a novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus sp. nov. SK006 isolated from an Asian traditional fermented shrimp paste

Bacillus sp. nov. SK006 producing four extracellular fibrinolytic enzymes was isolated from fermented shrimp paste, a traditional and popular Asian seasoning. One fibrinolytic enzyme was purified to homogeneity with a molecular mass of 43-46 kDa by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. The specific activity was determined to be 11.2 units/mg using plasmin as a standard. The enzyme displayed optimal activity at 30 degrees C and pH 7.2. It was stable below 40 degrees C for 4 h between pH 5.0 and pH 11.0. Zinc ion stimulated the enzyme activity whereas Cu2+, Ca2+, Fe3+, and Hg2+ caused its inhibition. The fibrinolytic activity was strongly inhibited by PMSF and moderately inhibited by EDTA as well as PCMB. The enzyme exhibited a higher affinity toward N-Succ-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA and was able to degrade fibrin clots either by forming active plasmin from plasminogen or by direct fibrinolysis. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was found to be AQSVPYEQPHLSQ, which is different from that of other known fibrinolytic enzymes.

Purification and characterization of fibrinolytic alkaline protease from Fusarium sp. BLB

Fusarium sp. BLB, which produces a strongly fibrinolytic enzyme, was isolated from plant leaf (Hibiscus). Fibrinolytic alkaline protease was purified from a culture filtrate of Fusarium sp. BLB by precipitation with (NH4)2(SO4) and column chromatography with CM-Toyopearl 650 M and Superdex 75. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular weight was 27,000 by SDS-PAGE. Maximum activity of protease was observed at pH 9.5 and 50 degrees C. Purified protease was active between pH 2.5 and 11.5 and was found to be stable up to 50 degrees C. The enzyme derived from Fusarium sp. BLB is useful for thrombolytic therapy because this enzyme showed pH resistance. The activity was inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme showed a similarity to those of proteases from Fusarium sp., Streptomyces griseus, Bos taurus bovine, Katsuwo pelamis digestive tract, and Lumbricus rubellus.

Screening and characterization of a novel fibrinolytic metalloprotease from a metagenomic library

A metagenomic library was constructed using total genomic DNA extracted from the mud in the west coast of Korea and was used together with a fosmid vector, pCC1FOS in order to uncover novel gene sources. One clone from approximately 30,000 recombinant Escherichia coli clones was identified that showed proteolytic activity. The gene for the proteolytic enzyme was subcloned into pUC19 and sequenced, and a database search for homologies revealed it to be a zinc-dependent metalloprotease. The cloned gene included the intact coding gene for a novel metalloproteinase and its own promoter. It comprised an open reading frame of 1,080 base pairs, which encodes a protein of 39,490 Da consisting of 359 amino acid residues. A His-Glu-X-X-His sequence, which is a conserved sequence in the active site of zinc-dependent metalloproteases, was found in the deduced amino acid sequence of the gene, suggesting that the enzyme is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at 50 degrees C for 1 h and pH 7.0. The enzyme activity was inhibited by metal-chelating reagents, such as EDTA, EGTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. The enzyme hydrolyzed azocasein as well as fibrin. Thus, the enzyme could be useful as a therapeutic agent to treat thrombosis.

Cloning and expression of a fibrinolytic enzyme (subtilisin DFE) gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DC-4 in Bacillus subtilis

A strong fibrinolytic enzyme produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DC-4, subtilisin DFE, was isolated from douchi, a traditional Chinese soybean-fermented food. Based on the high homology between the N-terminal sequence of subtilisin DFE and that of subtilisin BPN, PCR primers were designed that allowed for the amplification and cloning of the intact subtilisin DFE gene. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of a 1149-bp open reading frame encoding 382 amino acid residues. The enzyme was actively expressed by the Escherichia coli-Bacillus subtilis shuttle expression vector pSUGV4 in the protease-deficient strain B. subtilis WB600, and its biochemical characteristics were the same as those of the original subtilisin DFE isolated from the donor strain, i.e., its molecular weight is approximately 28 kDa and it is a serine protease.

Novel fibrinolytic enzyme in fermented shrimp paste, a traditional asian fermented seasoning

A novel fibrinolytic enzyme was purified from fermented shrimp paste, a popular seasoning used in Asian countries. The enzyme is a monomer with an apparent molecular weight of 18 kDa, and it is composed primarily of beta-sheet and random coils. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be DPYEEPGPCENLQVA. It is a neutral protease with an optimal activity from pH 3 to 7. No inhibition was observed with PMSF, Pepstatin A, E64, and 1,10-phenanthroline, but the enzyme was slightly inhibited by EDTA and Cu(2+). It was relatively specific to fibrin or fibrinogen as a protein substrate, yet it hydrolyzed none of the plasma proteins in the studies. In vitro, the enzyme was resistant to pepsin and trypsin digestion. It also had an anticoagulant activity measured with activated partial thrombin time and prothrombin time tests. The novel fibrinolytic enzyme derived from traditional Asian foods is useful for thrombolytic therapy. In addition, this enzyme has a significant potential for food fortification and nutraceutical applications, such that its use could effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Production of fibrinolytic enzyme from soybean grits fermented by Bacillus firmus NA-1

Bacillus firmus NA-1 producing fibrinolytic enzyme was isolated from Japanese traditional fermented soybean (Natto). Seed starter was cultured in 5% soy milk prepared with micronized soybean powder. To optimize the production of fibrinolytic enzyme, the soybean grits were mixed with 1 volume of water and sterilized at 121 degrees C for 5 minutes, and then used as the medium for solid-state fermentation at 42 degrees C. The fibrinolytic enzyme activity of the fermented grits was 1,120 plasmin units/100 g (wet weight) after fermentation for 24 hours. The water extract of the fermented grits showed the highest viscosity after fermentation for 12 hours. However, the tyrosine content was the highest (962 mg%) after fermentation for 60 hours. The color of raw soybean grit was affected by heat treatment. The activity of fibrinolytic enzyme was stable after freezing-drying, but was completely destroyed by heating at 70 degrees C for 10 minutes. The color of soybean grit was greatly darkened by increasing fermentation time. Soybean grits were completely converted into valuable functional ingredients containing fibrinolytic enzyme, peptide, and mucilage by the solid-state fermentation.

Purification and characterization of a fibrinolytic enzyme produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DC-4 screened from douchi, a traditional Chinese soybean food

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DC-4, which produces a strongly fibrinolytic enzyme, was isolated from douchi, a traditional Chinese soybean-fermented food. A fibrinolytic enzyme (subtilisin DFE) was purified from the supernatant of B. amyloliquefaciens DC-4 culture broth and displayed thermophilic, hydrophilic and strong fibrinolytic activity. Subtilisin DFE was demonstrated to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and has molecular mass of 28000 Da and a pI of 8.0. The optimal reaction pH value and temperature were 9.0 and 48 degrees C, respectively. Subtilisin DFE not only hydrolyzed fibrin but also several synthetic substrates, particularly Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA, and phenylmethylsulfony fluoride can completely inhibit its fibrinolytic activity. These results indicated that subtilisin DFE is a subtilisin-family serine protease, similar to nattokinase from Bacillus natto. The first 24 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence of subtilisin DFE were AQSVPYGVSQIKAPALHSQGFTGS, which is identical to that of subtilisin K-54, and different from that of NK and CK. Results from subtilisin DFE gene sequence analysis showed that subtilisin DFE is a novel fibrinolytic enzyme.