Production and Characterization of ans Alkaline Protease from an Isolate,Xanthomonas sp.YL-37

A bacterial strain, which showed the high protease activity at low temperature and the high tolerance for the surfactant, was isolated from soil and identified as Xanthomonas sp. YL-37. The optimal temperature, initial pH, and cultivation time for the production of the alkaline protease by Xanthomonas sp. YL-37 were 20$\circC , 11.0, and 84 hours, respectively. In the jar fermenter culture of Xanthomonas sp. YL-37, the alkaline protease activity was about 15,000 DU/ml/-broth after cultivating for 108 hours. The optimal pH and temperature for the protease activity were 70$\circC and 11.0, respectively. The protease was relatively stable at the pH range of 7.0~12.0 and at the temperatures below 50$\circC . The protease activity at 20$\circC was about the level of 40% of its activity at 70$\circC . The enzyme was suggested as a serine protease because the enzyme activity was inhibited by phenylmethane sulfonyl fluoride, a serine modifier.