Studies on the Production of Extracellular Proteinases by a Non-pigmented Strain of Chromobacterium lividum Isolated from Abattoir Effluent |
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Authors: | R. H. DAINTY D. J. ETHERINGTON B. G. SHAW J. BARLOW G. T. BANKS |
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Affiliation: | Agricultural Research Council, Meat Research Institute, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY, England;Imperial College of Science and Technology, Department of Biochemistry, Imperial Institute Road, London SW7, England |
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Abstract: | A highly proteolytic bacterium isolated from abattoir effluent was identified as a non-pigmented strain of Chromobacterium lividum. Ferrous or ferric ions at concentrations between 1·8 × 10-5 and 9 × 10-4 g ions/1, which is 2–3 orders of magnitude greater than that required for growth, were essential for extracellular proteinase production in aerated but not in static culture. Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ or Zn2+ ions could not replace iron. Four proteinases (I-IV) were produced in static culture, but only proteinase I was formed in significant quantities in aerated culture. With both forms of culture amino nitrogen was essential for proteinase production; glucose inhibited formation in aerated, but not static, cultures. Growth occurred over the range 1–33 °C, whereas proteinase production ceased at 27 °C, with maximum activity at 13 °C. Proteinase production appeared to be controlled by an interaction between iron, oxygen tension and glucose. |
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