STUDIES ON THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF EXTRACELLULAR PROTEASES BY BACTERIA

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Abstract
Extracellular protease of S. marcescens is present in protein-or protein derivative-free media only when conditions (concentration of nutrients and age of the culture) favor abundant growth and bacterial conglomerates are formed, which possibly is explained by assuming that the proteins of dead bacteria or proteic metabolic products act as inducers of protease formation. Dilute solutions of gelatin induce production of proteolytic activity in S. marcescens proceeding from proteolytically inactive cultures after a short period of time (150 minutes) and its rapid increase before the initial number of bacteria is duplicated. Ca is necessary to preserve enzyme activity arising in synthetic media but not that produced in gelatin.