Purification and properties of a collagenolytic protease produced by marine bacteriumVibrio vulnificus CYK279H

A collagenolytic enzyme, produced byVibrio vulnificus CYK279H, was purified by ultrafiltration, dialysis, Q-Sepharose ion exchange and Superdex-200 gel chromatography. The enzyme from the supernatant was purified 13.2 fold, with a yield of 11.4%. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be approximately 35.0 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of the enzyme was determined as Gly-Asp-Pro-Cys-Met-Pro-Ile-Ile-Asn. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme activity were 35°C and 7.5, respectively. The enzyme activity was stable within the pH and temperature ranges 6.8∼8.0 and 20∼35°C, respectively. The purified enzyme was strongly activated by Zn²⁺, Li²⁺, and Ca²⁺, but inhibited by Cu²⁺. In addition, the enzyme was strongly inhibited by 1, 10-phenanthroline and EDTA. The purified enzyme was suggested to be a neutral metalloprotease.