Production of a thermostable ATPase by the facultative thermophile,Bacillus coagulans

The properties of the ATPase in the facultative thermophile, Bacillus coagulans, grown at thermophilic or mesophilic temperatures were similar. Arrhenius plots did not show discontinuities indicative of thermoadaptation. Magnesium stimulation of the enzyme was dependant on the assay temperature but independant of the growth temperature. The ATPase in cells grown at 35°C or 55°C was equally thermostable at 65°C. In contrast, the ATPase from the mesophile, Bacillus megaterium (T _max=42°C) was completely inactivated at 55°C in 5 min.