우리나라 전통발효식품의 하나인 청국장으로부터 고 비활성 세포외 protease 생산능이 우수한 균주를 분리하고 그 특성을 조사하였다. 분리된 균주 중 D14 균주 배양 상징액의 protease 활성이 15.2 U/mL로서 가장 강하였으며 비활성 또한 40.0 U/mg protein으로서 가장 강하게 나타났다. 이 균주의 특성을 조사한 후 Berge's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology에 준하여 Bacillus subti

Several extracellular protease-producing bacteria were isolated from Chungkookjang, a traditional Korean food of fermented soybeans, on skim milk agar plates. Among these bacteria, strain D14 exhibited the highest production (15.2 U/mL) and specific activity (40.0 U/mg protein) of extracellular protease activity as assessed on growth in a protease induction medium composed of 1% (w/v) soluble starch, 1.5% (w/v) skim milk, 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract, and 2% (w/v) NaCl. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological and physiological characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence. A BLAST search of 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis strain NCIB 3610. The 16S rDNA sequence homology was 99.9%. Our isolate produced the highest level of protease when grown in a protease induction medium containing 1% (w/v) sorbitol and 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract. Fructose and glucose reduced enzyme production to 12.7% and 35.9%, respectively, of the level seen when the strain was grown in medium containing soluble starch. Soytone also reduced enzyme production to 61.4% of the level noted when the strain was grown in medium containing yeast extract.

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