Production and partial characterization of dehairing protease from Bacillus cereus MCM B-326

Bacillus cereus MCM B-326, isolated from buffalo hide, produced an extracellular protease. Maximum protease production occurred (126.87 ± 1.32 U ml−1) in starch soybean meal medium of pH 9.0, at 30 °C, under shake culture condition, with 2.8 × 108 cells ml−1 as initial inoculum density, at 36 h. Ammonium sulphate precipitate of the enzyme was stable over a temperature range of 25–65 °C and pH 6–12, with maximum activity at 55 °C and pH 9.0. The enzyme required Ca2+ ions for its production but not for activity and/or stability. The partially purified enzyme exhibited multiple proteases of molecular weight 45 kDa and 36 kDa. The enzyme could be effectively used to remove hair from buffalo hide indicating its potential in leather processing industry.