Abstract
An increased need by the green industry for enzymes that can be exploited for eco-friendly industrial applications led us to isolate and identify a unique protease obtained from a proteolytic Bacillus megaterium-TK1 strain from a seawater source. The extracellular thermostable serine protease was processed by multiple chromatography steps. The isolated protease displayed a relative molecular weight (MW) of 33 kDa (confirmed by zymography), optimal enzyme performance at pH 8.0, and maximum enzyme performance at 70 °C with 100% substrate specificity towards casein. The proteolytic action was blocked by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), a serine hydrolase inactivator. Protease performance was augmented by several bivalent metal cations. The protease tolerance was studied under stringent conditions with different industrial dispersants and found to be stable with Surf Excel, Tide, or Rin detergents. Moreover, this protease could clean blood-stained fabrics and showed dehairing activity for cow skin with significantly reduced pollution loads. Our results suggest that this serine protease is a promising additive for various eco-friendly usages in both the detergent and leather industries.