Abstract

The objective of the current study was to purify and partially characterize an alkaline protease (AP) from a newly isolated Egyptian Bacillus sphaericus strain. The enzyme was subjected to a 3-step purification scheme involving i) ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] fractionation, ii) acetone precipitation and iii) Sephadex G-200 gel permeation chromatography. Fractions precipitated with 30 to 60% [(NH₄)₂SO₄] saturation levels exhibited the highest enzyme activities, whereas acetone in the ranges between 50 to 75% (v/v). Gel permeation utilizing Sephadex G-200 column resulted in approx. 50 fold purification level, as compared to the original crude enzyme, with a yield recovery of 27%. The AP enzyme was successfully purified to homogeneity as a monomeric band with an estimated molecular mass of ~29 kDa, based on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and zymogram activity staining analyses. While, the maximum enzymatic activity was recorded at pH 10, AP showed an optimal activity at incubation temperature range AP between 55 to 60°C. A thermal stability at temperatures ≥ 40°C for 15 min, using casein as a substrate, with a total loss of enzymatic activity upon heating at 70°C. Results for kinetic parameters indicated that the apparent K_m and V_maxvalues for AP, with casein as substrate under optimal reaction conditions (pH 10 and 55°C), were found to be 230 µg min^-1 ml^-1 and 0.05% (w/v), respectively. Thus, the potentials of AP as an industrially important enzyme were assessed in the light of our current knowledge on microbial alkaline proteases.

Key words: Bacillus sphaericus, alkaline protease, biochemical characterization, fodder yeast, enzyme purification, biopesticide.