THE PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES OF MICROORGANISMS: III. SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTRACELLULAR PROTEASES PRODUCED IN SUBMERGED CULTURE

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Abstract
Some of the general characteristics of the proteases liberated into the culture medium by molds and actinomycetes grown in submerged culture have been studied. Species of Alternaria, Streptomyces, Mortierella, and Gliocladium were used. The enzymes resemble trypsin in that they are most active at a pH slightly above 7 and are inhibited by a preparation of egg albumin. They are stable at low temperatures but suffer marked losses in activity when stored for 16 hr. above 40 °C. The most rapid hydrolysis of gelatin occurs at temperatures between 40 °C. and 50 °C. The enzymes from different organisms show definite differences with respect to their ability to attack different proteins, gelatin and casein being in general the most readily digested. The protease systems from different organisms also vary with respect to the extent to which they can digest gelatin; some enzymes are able to release about three times as many amino groups from gelatin as others. The limit of the hydrolysis is not dependent upon substrate concentration but is slightly affected by the concentration of enzyme. The enzymes were effective in liberating free amino acids from gelatin.