A novel metalloprotease from banana peel and its biochemical characterization.

Protein cleaving enzymes, called proteases are one of the most commercially used enzymes possessing extensive applications in various industries. The present study was focused on screening, extraction, purification and characterization of protease from banana peel. Twelve different varieties of banana peels were screened for the protease activity. The maximum activity of the isolated enzyme was 230.4 CDU/mg from Nendran banana. The crude enzyme was purified up to 8.1 fold with the yield of 61.34%. The molecular weight of the purified fraction was found to be 40 kDa. The optimum conditions for maximum protease activity were achieved at 30 °C and pH 7. The Lineweaver-Burk plot exhibited the kinetic parameters of the enzyme such as Vmax and Km as 588.4 CDU/mg and 15.2 mg/ml respectively. The influence of different inhibitors, metal ions, organic solvents, detergents, oxidising agents and salinity were examined. The collagenolytic activity was tested with purified type I collagen as a substrate. The enzyme was tested for cell cytotoxicity, detection of apoptosis using fluorescent dyes and antitumor activity. The results demonstrated that protease from banana peel was of high significance and potential for usage in therapeutic for breaking down collagen/peptide bonds.

A systematic reconsideration on proteases.

Proteases are a group of large complex enzyme molecules that perform highly focused proteolysis functions. A vast quantity of the protease enzymes is predominantly sourced from microbial fermentation process, although proteases tend to natively present in plant, animals and humans. Proteases possess a pervasive importance in medical and pharmaceutical sector, because of its enriched specificity towards biomolecules. They are also actively encompassed in regulating certain physiological pathways. A distinct territory of human disorders is treated by substrate specific proteases. Enormous numbers of catalytic activities in habitual metabolism process of a living organism are protease dependent. Pilot scale researches and product development in industrial biotechnology sectors are wholly based on any one of the protease enzymes. The applications of the protease enzymes and its economic benefits of being an eco-friendly material are far-reaching. This review presents a brief overview on the classification and sources of various types of proteases. We describe the essential evidences of role of protease in different sectors. The proteases could be a potential relieves to harmful synthetic chemicals in distinctive industrial processes and thus gains global perception.