Characterization of a novel protease from Aeribacillus pallidus strain VP3 with potential biotechnological interest.

The present study investigates the purification and physico-chemical characterization of an extracellular protease from the Aeribacillus pallidus strain VP3 previously isolated from a geothermal oil-field (Sfax, Tunisia). The maximum protease activity recorded after 22h of incubation at 45°C was 3000U/ml. Pure enzyme, designated as SPVP, was obtained after ammonium sulfate fractionation (40-60%)-dialysis followed by heat-treatment (70°C for 30min) and UNO Q-6 FPLC anion-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme is a monomer of molecular mass about 29kDa. The sequence of the 25 NH2-terminal residues of SPVP showed a high homology with those of Bacillus proteases. The almost complete inhibition by PMSF and DIFP confirmed that SPVP is a member of serine protease family. Its optima of pH and temperature were pH 10 and 60°C, respectively. Its half-life times at 70 and 80°C were 8 and 4h, respectively. Its catalytic efficiency was higher than those of SAPCG, Alcalase Ultra 2.5L, and Thermolysin type X. SPVP exhibited excellent stability to detergents and wash performance analysis revealed that it could remove blood-stains effectively and high resistance against organic solvents. These properties make SPVP a potential candidate for applications in detergent formulations and non-aqueous peptide biocatalysis.

Optimized production and characterization of a detergent-stable protease from Lysinibacillus fusiformis C250R.

In this study, we aimed to optimize the cultural and nutritional conditions for protease production by Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain C250R in submerged fermentation process using statistical methodology. The most significant factors (gruel, wheat bran, yeast extract, and FeSO4) were identified by Plackett-Burman design. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum levels of the screened factors and their interaction. Under the optimized conditions, protease yield 3100U/mL was 4.5 folds higher than those obtained by the use of the initial conditions (680U/mL). Additionally, a new extracellular 51kDa-protease, designated SAPLF, was purified and biochemically characterized from strain C250R. It shows optimum activity at 70°C and pH 10. Its half-life times at 70 and 80°C were 10 and 6-h, respectively. Irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity of SAPLF with serine protease inhibitors demonstrated that it belongs to the serine protease family. Interestingly, its catalytic efficiency was higher than that of SPVP from Aeribacillus pallidus strain VP3 and Alcalase Ultra 2.5L from Bacillus licheniformis. This study demonstrated that SAPLF has a high detergent compatibility and an excellent stain removal compared to Alcalase Ultra 2.5L; which offers an interesting potential for its application in the laundry detergent industry.