Purification and characterization of a metalloprotease from Chryseobacterium indologenes Ix9a and determination of the amino acid specificity with electrospray mass spectrometry

The heat-stable protease from Chryseobacterium indologenes Ix9a was purified to homogeneity using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The enzyme was characterized as a metalloprotease with an approximate relative molecular mass of 24,000, a pH optimum of 6.5, and a high temperature optimum (50 degrees C). The metal chelator EDTA and the Zn2+-specific chelator 1,10-phenanthroline were identified as inhibitors and atomic absorption analysis showed that the enzyme contained Ca2+ and Zn2+. The activity of the apoenzyme could be restored with Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Co2+. Phosphoramidon and Gly-d-Phe did not inhibit Chryseobacterium indologenes Ix9a protease. Heat inactivation did not follow first order kinetics, but showed biphasic inactivation curves. The protease has a Km of 0.813 microg. ml-1 for casein as substrate. Amino acid analysis showed that the protease contains a high amount of small amino acids like glycine, alanine, and serine, but a low concentration of methionine and no cysteine at all. Electrospray mass spectrometry of proteolysis fragments formed when insulin B chain was hydrolyzed showed cleavage at the amino terminal of leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. A hydrophobic amino acid at the carboxyl donating side seems to increase the rate of reaction.

Fermentation of milk permeate by proteolytic bacteria for protease production

Kinetics of cell growth and protease production by four proteolytic bacterial strains, namely, Bacillus subtilis EMCC 1020, Bacillus megaterium EMCC 1057, Serratia marcescens EMCC 1247, and Pseudomonas fluorescens EMCC 1221, in milk permeate, compared with other fermentation media, were studied. The pH values, lactose utilization, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reduction in milk permeate also were investigated. The four strains were able to grow in milk permeate, and to produce considerable amounts of protease, reaching 289 (EMCC 1020), 252 (EMCC 1057), 263 (EMCC 1247), and 212 (EMCC 1221) U/mL after 30 h of fermentation. The growth and enzyme activity of the four strains were greater in milk permeate than those in other fermentation media. The protease-producing bacteria were able to utilize lactose in milk permeate with values ranging from 37.62 to 54.97% and to reduce the BOD of milk permeate by 50.59-63.65%. Milk permeate proved to be the best medium for enzyme production by all organisms examined.

Thermostable enzymes

In general, enzyme thermostability is an intrinsic property, determined by the primary structure of the protein. However, external environmental factors including cations, substrates, co-enzymes, modulators, polyols and proteins often increase enzyme thermostability. With some exceptions, enzymes present in thermophiles are more stable than their mesophilic counterparts. Some organisms produce enzymes with different thermal stability properties when grown at lower and higher temperatures. There are commercial advantages in carrying out enzymic reactions at higher temperatures. Some industrial enzymes exhibit high thermostability. More stable forms of other industrial enzymes are eagerly being sought.

Peptidases from two strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens: partial purification, properties and action on milk

Pseudomonas fluorescens strains 240 and 32A expressed cell-associated peptidase activity which was shown by subcellular fractionation to be primarily intracellular. Two peptidases were partly purified from strain 32A. One specifically hydrolysed N-alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginine-4-nitroanilide and was termed endopeptidase and the other hydrolysed L-lysine- and L-leucine-4-nitroanilide and was termed aminopeptidase. The endopeptidase had very low activity on bovine serum albumin compared with that of trypsin and probably was not a proteinase. The endopeptidase had a mol. wt of 33,000 and a pH optimum of 8.0. The enzyme was stimulated by Ca2+ and Mg2+ and inhibited by Co2+, Mn2+, Hg2+, Zn2+ and leupeptin. Soya bean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethane sulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) had no effect on its activity. The aminopeptidase had a mol. wt of 44,000 and a pH optimum of 8.0. It was inhibited by all the metal ions mentioned above and by PMSF. Little proteolysis was found when ultra high temperature (UHT) sterilized milk was treated with cell-free extract from strain 32A. It was concluded that the cell-associated peptidases from Pseudomonas strains normally present in raw milk may not contribute significantly to the deterioration of UHT sterilized milk.