Some observations on protease production in continuous suspension cultures of Bacillus firmus

Invariance of culture conditions in steady state continuous cultures make these a very valuable tool to study the influence of various culture parameters on cell growth and synthesis of primary and secondary metabolites. The result of a parametric study on production of protease in continuous suspension cultures of Bacillus firmus NRS 783 are reported in this article. This strain is a superior producer of an alkaline protease with major application in the detergent industry. The parameters investigated include dilution rate and concentrations of yeast extract, ammonium, and inorganic phosphate in the bioreactor feed, glucose being the principal carbon source in all experiments. The regulatory effects of the key culture parameters on cell growth, synthesis and secretion of protease, and production of acetic acid are investigated. The relations among the specific cell growth rate, specific utilization rates of the principal carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous sources, and specific production rates of two nonbiomass products, viz., acetic acid and protease, are examined, and the effects of the manipulated culture parameters on these relations, specific protease activity, and yields of cell mass, protease, and acetic acid on the basis of the principal carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous sources are studied. An increase in dilution rate led to increases in specific utilization rates of the principal carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous sources and specific production rates of acetic acid and protease and decreases in bulk activities/concentrations of the three products (acetic acid, cell mass, and protease). As a result, the productivities of the three species were maximized at an intermediate dilution rate. Increased supply of yeast extract (a rich source of amino acids, proteins, and vitamins, besides being an additional source of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) promoted cell mass formation but reduced protease production per unit cell mass. Increased supply of nitrogen and phosphorous sources stimulated protease synthesis up to certain threshold levels and repressed the enzyme synthesis beyond the threshold levels. With increased supply of the nitrogen source, the phosphorous source was more efficiently utilized for cell growth and protease synthesis. Stable maintenance of continuous cultures of B. firmus over prolonged period is demonstrated in this study. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Analysis of glucose carbon fluxes in continuous cultures of Bacillus thuringiensis

 The glucose carbon fluxes in continuous cultures of Bacillus thuringiensis grown in a complex medium have been studied as a function of the growth rate. The results are discussed in the light of a growth model. From reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and carbon balances it was determined that the fraction of glucose consumed for biomass synthesis decreased with the growth rate, while the glucose flux through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle diminished after a threshold value of D=0.34 h^-1, where D=dilution rate. At the highest growth rate tested, glucose was used almost exclusively as the energy source, via fermentative pathways, which indicates that the yeast extract was used as the carbon source. The specific rate of oxygen consumption increased with growth even after the beginning of the accumulation of acids, indicating that the respiratory chain was not saturated. The results suggest that there is a mismatch between glycolysis and TCA cycle capacity, depending on the growth rate. Furthermore, values of (P/O) ratio and m _ATP are presented, where (P/O) is mole of ATP formed per gram atom oxygen consumed by the respiratory chains and m _ATP is the maintenance requirement for ATP. Received: 6 September 1995/Received last revision: 13 February 1996/Accepted: 20 February 1996     

Purification and characterization of a serine alkaline protease from Bacillus clausii GMBAE 42

An extracellular serine alkaline protease of Bacillus clausii GMBAE 42 was produced in protein-rich medium in shake-flask cultures for 3 days at pH 10.5 and 37°C. Highest alkaline protease activity was observed in the late stationary phase of cell cultivation. The enzyme was purified 16-fold from culture filtrate by DEAE-cellulose chromatography followed by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, with a yield of 58%. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed the molecular weight of the enzyme to be 26.50 kDa. The optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 60°C; however, it is shifted to 70°C after addition of 5 mM Ca²⁺ ions. The enzyme was stable between 30 and 40°C for 2 h at pH 10.5; only 14% activity loss was observed at 50°C. The optimal pH of the enzyme was 11.3. The enzyme was also stable in the pH 9.0–12.2 range for 24 h at 30°C; however, activity losses of 38% and 76% were observed at pH values of 12.7 and 13.0, respectively. The activation energy of Hammarsten casein hydrolysis by the purified enzyme was 10.59 kcal mol⁻¹ (44.30 kJ mol⁻¹). The enzyme was stable in the presence of the 1% (w/v) Tween-20, Tween-40,Tween-60, Tween-80, and 0.2% (w/v) SDS for 1 h at 30°C and pH 10.5. Only 10% activity loss was observed with 1% sodium perborate under the same conditions. The enzyme was not inhibited by iodoacetate, ethylacetimidate, phenylglyoxal, iodoacetimidate, n-ethylmaleimidate, n-bromosuccinimide, diethylpyrocarbonate or n-ethyl-5-phenyl-iso-xazolium-3′-sulfonate. Its complete inhibition by phenylmethanesulfonylfluoride and relatively high k _cat value for N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA hydrolysis indicates that the enzyme is a chymotrypsin-like serine protease. K _m and k _cat values were estimated at 0.655 μM N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA and 4.21×10³ min⁻¹, respectively.     

地衣芽孢杆菌TG116胞外蛋白酶产酶条件与酶学性质

【背景】从独角莲中分离得到的地衣芽孢杆菌TG116是一株对植物病原菌具有广谱抗性作用的生防菌株。【目的】优化TG116的产酶条件并探索其酶学性质,进一步了解其抗菌机制。【方法】采用Folin-Phenol显色法与响应曲面法,优化菌株TG116的产酶条件并研究其蛋白酶的酶学性质。【结果】菌株TG116产酶最适条件为:温度40.83°C,p H 8.01,发酵时间53.74 h,增加通气量可以显著提高酶活力。按照优化后的条件培养48 h后,上清液蛋白酶活力从57.46 U/mL达到了254.07 U/mL。酶学性质研究表明:该酶为碱性蛋白酶,最适反应pH为8.5,最适反应温度为50°C,具有良好的温度和pH稳定性,EDTA对酶活具有强烈的抑制作用,金属离子Mg~(2+)、Ca~(2+)、Na~+、Co~(2+)、K~+等对酶活也具有一定的抑制作用。【结论】菌株TG116具有良好的p H与温度稳定性,在实际应用中蛋白酶不易失活,可以分解真菌的细胞壁蛋白成分,破坏细胞壁结构,从而抑制甚至杀死病原菌,达到抗菌作用。     

Production of a thermophilic,extracellular alkaline protease by Bacillus stearothermophilus AP-4

A thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus strain AP-4 excreting a thermostable alkaline protease, was isolated from a local compost. Maximum activity of protease (250 U/ml) was after 36 h growth in broth at pH 9.0 and at 55°C. The protease was optimally active at pH 9.0 and 55°C and was stable in 5 mm CaCl₂. The enzyme was completely inactivated by PMSF, EDTA and -mercaptoethanol. It is therefore a metal ion-dependent, alkaline, serine protease.R. Dhandapani and R. Vijayaragavan are with the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India     

Oxidant and SDS-stable alkaline protease from Bacillus clausii I-52: production and some properties

AIMS: An investigation was carried out on an oxidative and SDS-stable alkaline protease secreted by Bacillus clausii of industrial significance. METHODS AND RESULTS: Maximum enzyme activity was produced when the bacterium was grown in the medium containing (g l-1): soyabean meal, 15; wheat flour, 10; liquid maltose, 25; K2HPO4, 4; Na2HPO4, 1; MgSO4.7H2O, 0.1; Na2CO3, 6. The enzyme has an optimum pH of around 11 and optimum temperature of 60 degrees C. The alkaline protease showed extreme stability towards SDS and oxidizing agents, which retained its activity above 75 and 110% on treatment for 72 h with 5% SDS and 10% H2O2, respectively. Inhibition profile exhibited by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride suggested that the protease from B. clausii belongs to the family of serine proteases. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus clausii produced high levels of an extracellular protease having high stability towards SDS and H2O2. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The alkaline protease from B. clausii I-52 is significant for an industrial perspective because of its ability to function in broad pH and temperature ranges in addition to its tolerance and stability in presence of an anionic surfactant, like SDS and oxidants like peroxides and perborates. The enzymatic properties of the protease also suggest its suitable application as additive in detergent formulations.     

Production of savinase and population viability of Bacillus clausii during high-cell-density fed-batch cultivations

The growth and product formation of a Savinase-producing Bacillus clausii were investigated in high-cell-density fed-batch cultivations with both linear and exponential feed profiles. The highest specific productivity of Savinase was observed shortly after the end of the initial batch phase for all feed profiles applied and, in addition, there was a time-dependent decrease in specific productivity. The specific glucose uptake rate increased with time for constant specific growth rate indicating that the maintenance requirements increased with time, possibly due to a decreasing K(+) concentration. The physiological state of the cells was monitored during the cultivations using a flow cytometry assay based on the permeability of the cell membrane to propidium iodide. In the latter parts of the fed-batch cultures with a linear feed profile, a large portion of the cell population was found to have a permeable membrane, indicating a large percentage of dead cells. By assuming that only cells with a nonpermeable membrane contributed to growth and product formation, the physiological properties of this subpopulation were calculated.     

地衣芽孢杆菌胞外蛋白酶的纯化及特性分析

研究不同条件对地衣芽孢杆菌De株产生胞外蛋白酶的量及其酶活性的影响,结果表明在pH为7.4—8.2范围内,温度为30℃时,培养8—12h的菌株所分泌胞外产物中的蛋白酶活性最高。实验先以半透膜法收集芽孢杆菌的胞外产物,然后再经过硫酸铵沉淀过夜S、ephadex G-100凝胶层析和DEAE-Cellulose离子交换层析及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳等四个步骤的分离纯化后,可以得到含有3种主要蛋白质(BLP1、BLP2、BLP3)成分的胞外蛋白酶,其分子量分别为66.2KD、31.0KD及约20.1KD,所得纯化蛋白酶的蛋白浓度为0.773μg/mL,蛋白回收率为11.66%。实验还发现,纯化的胞外蛋白酶在100℃下作用30min,仍可保持其活力,可见具有相当的热稳定性,而其酶活最佳的pH和温度条件分别为7.8和45—65℃。酶活抑制实验显示EDTA、铜、钴、镁离子等均可成为其酶活抑制因子;而丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂甲基磺酰氟(PMSF)、铁、锰、钡、钙离子等对酶活性没有明显影响;锌则会令之酶活性其部分丧失。     

Growth energetics of an alkaline serine protease-producing strain of Bacillus clausii during continuous cultivation

Glucose-limited chemostats were used to determine the growth yields of biomass of Bacillus clausii PP 473-8 producing an alkaline serine protease Savinase (Novozymes A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark) and a low yield of biomass on oxygen was observed. The energy metabolism was investigated further by setting up simple stoichiometric models for growth on glucose and citrate. In order to determine the parameters in the models, a macromolecular biomass composition was determined based on measured values of protein and RNA combined with literature data. From the macromolecular composition of the biomass the theoretical co-factor and building block requirements needed for biomass formation were calculated. Using the stoichiometric models and data for growth on glucose and citrate the amount of ATP needed for biomass synthesis was estimated to 42.0 mmol ATP/gDW, the P/O ratio to 0.68 and the ATP maintenance to 2.93 mmol ATP/gDW/h. From these values it is concluded that the high oxygen consumption compared with other Bacillus species is due to a low efficiency in respiration resulting in a low P/O ratio. Finally, the energetic parameters were estimated for different architectures of the respiratory chain.     

Production of extracellular enzymes in continuous culture

The production of bacterial enzymes in batch fermentations is compared with results obtained in continuous culture. When studying the production of α-amylase inBacillus subtilis it was found that instability of the enzyme synthesis was due to nonhomogeneity of the population rather than to “the culture’s history” (i.e. succession of several physiological states necessary for the enzyme production). The plasmid contained in the production clone was found to be the factor responsible for the α-amylase production. Predominance of the production clone or of the nonproduction one depends on the cultivation conditions used. As compared with batch cultivation the continuous production yields higher enzyme concentrations under optimal conditions and the fermentor productivity may be four to five times higher.     

Gene encoding a minor extracellular protease in Bacillus subtilis.

The gene for a minor, extracellular protease has been identified in Bacillus subtilis. The gene (epr) encoded a primary product of 645 amino acids that was partially homologous to both subtilisin (Apr) and the major internal serine protease (ISP-1) of B. subtilis. Deletion analysis indicated that the C-terminal 240 amino acids of Epr were not necessary for activity. This C-terminal region exhibited several unusual features, including a high abundance of lysine residues and the presence of a partially homologous sequence of 44 amino acids that was directly repeated five times. The epr gene mapped near sacA and was not required for growth or sporulation.     

Metabolic network analysis of Bacillus clausii on minimal and semirich medium using (13)C-labeled glucose

Using (13)C-labeled glucose fed to the facultative alkalophilic Bacillus clausii producing the alkaline serine protease Savinase, the intracellular fluxes were quantified in continuous cultivation and in batch cultivation on a minimal medium. The flux through the pentose phosphate pathway was found to increase with increasing specific growth rate but at a much lower level than previously reported for Bacillus subtilis. Two futile cycles in the pyruvate metabolism were included in the metabolic network. A substantial flux in the futile cycle involving malic enzyme was estimated, whereas only a very small or zero flux through PEP carboxykinase was estimated, indicating that the latter enzyme was not active during growth on glucose. The uptake of the amino acids in a semirich medium containing 15 of the 20 amino acids normally present in proteins was estimated using fully labeled glucose in batch cultivations. It was found that leucine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine were taken up from the medium and not synthesized de novo from glucose. In contrast, serine and threonine were completely synthesized from other metabolites and not taken up from the medium. Valine, proline, and lysine were partly taken up from the medium and partly synthesized from glucose. The metabolic network analysis was extended to include analysis of growth on the semirich medium containing amino acids, and the metabolic flux distribution on this medium was estimated and compared with growth on minimal medium.     

Production of an oxidant and SDS-stable alkaline protease from an alkaophilic Bacillus clausii I-52 by submerged fermentation: Feasibility as a laundry detergent additive

An investigation was carried out on enzyme production of an oxidant and SDS-stable alkaline protease secreted by Bacillus clausii I-52 using the submerged fermentation and its application as a detergent additive. Maximum enzyme activity was produced when cells were grown under the submerged fermentation conditions at 37 °C for 48 h with an aeration rate of 1.5 vvm and agitation rate of 700 rpm in a medium (pH 10.65) containing (w/v): soybean meal, 20; wheat flour, 10; liquid maltose, 25; K₂HPO₄, 4; Na₂HPO₄, 1; MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.1; NaCl, 4; FeSO₄·7H₂O, 0.5; Na₂CO₃, 6. The alkaline protease produced was found to be highly compatible and stable against not only the commercial detergent components such as α-orephin sulfonate and zeolite but also the commercial detergent preparations. Wash performance analysis using EMPA test fabrics revealed that BCAP exhibited high efficiency for the removal of protein stains in the presence of commercial detergents as well as surfactants. These results suggest that the alkaline protease produced from B. clausii I-52 which showed high stability against detergents has significance for an industrial perspective, especially, detergent additive.     

Effect of mixing on the washout and steady-state performance of continuous cultures

The effects of mixing on the critical mean holding time for washout and the steady state performance of growth processes in continuous flow reactors are investigated. Macromixing, micromixing, and cell recycle arc considered. The tanks-in-series model composed of N completely mixed flow reactors, the dispersion model, the plug flow model, and a combined model composed of a plug flow reactor and a continuous stirred tank flow reactor connected in series arc used to represent the macro-mixing or residence time distribution. The extreme cases of micromixing, namely, complete segregation and maximum mixedness, as well as intermediate states of micromixing are investigated to determine their effects on washout and the occurence of multiple steady states. A technique for predicting the maximum mixedness washout condition from a knowledge of the residence time distribution is presented and used to determine the washout condition for the dispersion model under maximum mixedness conditions.