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Indian Journal of Microbiology logoLink to Indian Journal of Microbiology
. 2008 Jan 11;47(4):298–303. doi: 10.1007/s12088-007-0055-1

An alkaline protease from Bacillus circulans BM15, newly isolated from a mangrove station: characterization and application in laundry detergent formulations

Meera Venugopal 1,✉, A V Saramma 1
PMCID: PMC3450035  PMID: 23100681

Abstract

An investigation on the properties of an alkaline protease secreted by Bacillus circulans BM15 strain isolated from a mangrove sediment sample was carried out in order to characterize the enzyme and to test its potency as a detergent additive. The protease was purified to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation and was a 30-kDa protease as shown by SDS-PAGE and its proteolytic activity was detected by casein zymography. It had optimum activity at pH 7, was stable at alkaline pH range (7 to 11), had optimum temperature of activity 40°C and was stable up to a temperature of 55°C after incubation for one hour. Hg2+, Zn2+, Co2+, and Cu2+completely inhibited the enzyme activity, while Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Fe3+ were enhancing the same. The serine protease inhibitor PMSF and metal chelator EDTA inhibited the activity of this protease while the classic metalloprotease inhibitor 1, 10 phenanthroline did not show inhibition. The enzyme was stable in SDS, Triton-X-100 and H2 O2 as well as in various commercial detergents after incubation for one hour. The extracellular production of the enzyme, the pH and temperature stability and stability in presence of oxidants, surfactants and commercial detergents suggest its possible use as a detergent additive.

Keywords: Alkaline protease, Bacillus circulans, Detergent, Alkali stability, Thermal stability

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