Purification and characterization of extracellular proteinase produced by Brevibacterium linens ATCC 9172

The micro-organism Brevibacterium linens ATCC 9172 produced five extracellular proteinases, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) with copolymerized gelatine. One of these was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography and native preparative PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the proteinase were 8.0 and 50°C, respectively. The enzyme remained stable over a pH range from 6 to 10. The molecular weight estimated by SDS–PAGE was 56 kDa. Serine proteinase inhibitors 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (3,4-DCI) and phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride (PMSF) inhibited, while Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions activated the proteinase.