Abstract
Proteolytic activity was identified in cultures of the marine shipworm bacterium by monitoring of the release of acid-soluble azopeptides from azocasein. Activity was predominantly extracellular (>80%), and its production was coincident with logarithmic cell growth. The protease(s) appeared to be constitutive, since it was present even when the bacterium was grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions. However, activity was stimulated up to 8.6-fold by the addition of complex nitrogen (casein, amino acids) to the growth medium. Maximum activity was observed at 40°C and between pH 6.5 and 9.0. Relatively low concentrations (0.1 mM) of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) abolished activity, indicative of a serine protease(s).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature Cited
Barret AJ (1977) Introduction to the history and classification of tissue proteinases. In: Barret AJ (ed) Proteinases in mammalian cells and tissues. New York: Elsevier/North-Holland Publishing Co, pp 1–55
Blackburn TH (1968) Protease production byBacteroides amylophilus strain H18. J Gen Microbiol 53:27–36
Bradford M (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254
Cotta MA, Hespell RB (1986) Proteolytic activity of the ruminal bacteriumButyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Appl Environ Microbiol 52:51–58
Eriksson K-E, Pettersson B (1982) Purification and partial purification of two acidic proteases from the white-rot fungusSporotrichum pulverulentum. Eur J Biochem 124:635–642
Eriksson K-E, Wood TM (1985) Biodegradation of cellulose. In: Higuchi T (ed) Biosynthesis and biodegradation of wood components. Orlando, Florida: Academic Press, pp 469–503
Greene RV, Freer SN (1986) Growth characteristics of a novel nitrogen-fixing cellulolytic bacterium. Appl Environ Microbiol 52:982–986
Greene RV, Griffin HL, Freer SN (1988) Purification and characterization of an extracellular endoglucanase from the marine shipworm bacterium. Arch Biochem Biophys 267:334–341
Griffin HL, Freer SN, Greene RV (1987) Extracellular endoglucanase activity by a novel bacterium isolated from marine shipworm. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 144:143–151
Hazelwood GP, Edwards R (1981) Proteolytic activities of a rumen bacterium,Bacteroides ruminicola R8/4. J Gen Microbiol 125:11–15
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Morton B (1978) Feeding and digestion in shipworms. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev 16:107–144
Waterbury JB, Calloway CB, Turner RD (1983) A cellulolytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium cultured from the gland of Deshayes in shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae). Science 221:1401–1403
Whitaker JR (1972) Principles of enzymology for the food sciences. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the US Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Greene, R.V., Cotta, M.A. & Griffin, H.L. A novel, symbiotic bacterium isolated from marine shipworm secretes proteolytic activity. Current Microbiology 19, 353–356 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570881
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570881