Characterization of Metalloprotease from Serratia marcescens

Abstract

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family of Enterobacteriaceae. Here we report the characteristics of the bacterial peptidase produced by a novel S. marcescens isolate. Protease activity assays were conducted using different methods using casein as substrate. Protease activity was carried out at different temperatures and pH and using EDTA as inhibitor. The S. marcescens protease was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography. Protease assay showed the activity of crude enzyme as 1.572 U/ml and 0.46 U/ml of partially purified protease. The S. marcescens protease was classified as metalloprotease as protease activity was inhibited by EDTA up to 83%. The optimum temperature and pH of this protease were 45 °C and 8.0 respectively.