Abstract:
We report here the production of an alkaline serine protease by Aspergillus flavus isolated at 5600-m depth from deep-sea sediments of the Central Indian Basin. When grown on defatted groundnut oil meal at 30 degrees C for 48-72 h, this fungal isolate produced 2000-2500 ACU mL sup(-1) of alkaline protease. The purified protease had activity optima at pH 10.0 and 45 degrees C. It was a thiol-independent serine protease, identified as an alkaline serine protease ALP1 with a molecular mass of 42.57 kDa. The thermostability and activity of the enzyme increased at 60 degrees C, in the presence of additives such as sucrose, Tween 20, sorbitol, Ca sup(2+) and glycerol and was not adversely affected by H sub(2) O sub(2) indicating its potential as a detergent additive.
