The influence of NaCl and carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone on the production of extracellular proteases in a marine Vibrio strain

In general, the salinity of the ocean is close to 3.5% and marine vibrios possess the respiratory chain-linked Na+ pump. The influence of sodium chloride and the proton conductor carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) on the production of extracellular proteases in a marine Vibrio strain was examined. At the concentration of 0.5 M, sodium chloride minimally inhibited the activity of extracellular proteases by approximately 16%, whereas at the same concentration, the producton of extracellular proteases was severely inhibited. On the other hand, the production of extracellular proteases was completely inhibited by the addition of 2 microM CCCP at pH 8.5, where the respiratory chain-linked Na+ pump functions.