Evidence of cell-associated proteinases from Virgibacillus sp. SK33 isolated from fish sauce fermentation

Abstract: Cell‐associated proteinases from Virgibacillus sp. SK33 isolated from fish sauce fermentation were extracted and characterized. Proteinases were effectively released when washed cells were incubated in 0.3 mg/mL lysozyme in 50 mM Tris‐maleate (pH 7) at 37 °C for 2 h. Major cell‐associated proteinases exhibited molecular mass of 17, 32, and 65 kDa, but only a 32‐kDa proteinase showed strong amidolytic activity toward Suc‐Ala‐Ala‐Pro‐Phe‐AMC. Activity of all cell‐associated proteinases was completely inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, indicating a characteristic of serine proteinase. In addition, a 65‐kDa serine proteinase was also inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, implying a metal‐dependent characteristic. Optimum activity toward a synthetic peptide substrate was at 50 °C and pH 8 and 11. Proteinases with molecular mass of 17 and 32 kDa exhibited caseinolytic activity at 25% NaCl and activity based on a synthetic peptide substrate increased with NaCl concentrations up to 25%, suggesting their role in hydrolyzing proteins at high salt concentrations. This is the first report of liberated cell‐associated proteinases from a moderate halophile, Virgibacillus sp. Practical Application: The cell‐associated proteinases could be extracted from Virgibacillus sp. SK 33 using lysozyme. The extracted enzyme could be applied to hydrolyze food proteins at NaCl content as high as 25%. In addition, this study demonstrated that not only extracellular but also cell‐associated proteinases are key factors contributing to protein‐degrading ability at high salt environment of Virgibacillus sp. SK 33.     

Characterization of Ca-activated cell-bound proteinase from Virgibacillus sp. SK37 isolated from fish sauce fermentation

Cell-bound proteinase from Virgibacillus sp. SK37 isolated from the first month of fish sauce fermentation was characterized. The enzyme showed the maximum activity at 65 °C, pH 7.0 and 9.5, using azocasein as a substrate. The enzyme required at least 10 mmol/l Ca²⁺ to effectively hydrolyze casein and the extent of casein degradation increased with Ca²⁺ concentration. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) largely inhibited the activity, indicating a characteristic of Ca²⁺-activated serine proteinase. Among six synthetic substrates tested, the enzyme preferably hydrolyzed Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-AMC, indicating a subtilisin-like proteinase. Although activity towards actomyosin at 20 g/100 ml NaCl decreased to 63% compared to at 5 g/100 ml, the enzyme showed high stability at 25 g/100 ml NaCl, 30 °C. This was the first study to report biochemical characteristics of cell-bound proteinase from a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from fish sauce.     

A NaCl-stable serine proteinase from Virgibacillus sp. SK33 isolated from Thai fish sauce

An extracellular proteinase from Virgibacillus sp. SK33, isolated from 1 month-old fish sauce, was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity, using hydrophobic interaction chromatography and hydroxyapatite with purification fold of 2.5 and 7% yield. The anomalous molecular weight (MW) of 19 kDa was obtained from SDS–PAGE, whereas a MW of 33.7 kDa was determined by MALDI-TOF. Optimum conditions for catalytic activity were 55 °C and pH 7.5. The proteinase was strongly inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and preferentially hydrolysed Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-AMC, indicating a serine proteinase with subtilisin-like characteristics. K_m and k_cat of the purified proteinase were 27 μM and 12 s⁻¹, respectively. Proteinase activity, toward both synthetic and anchovy substrates, increased with NaCl up to 25%. The proteinase exhibited high stability in both the absence and presence of NaCl up to 25%. Approximately 2.5-fold increase in activity was observed in the presence of divalent cations, including Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Sr²⁺ at 100 mM. MALDI-TOF MS and LC–ESI-MS/MS analyses, as well as N-terminal sequences, revealed that the purified enzyme did not match microbial proteinases in the database, indicating it to be a novel proteinase.     

Spent brewery yeast sludge as a single nitrogen source for fibrinolytic enzyme production of Virgibacillus sp. SK37

The objectives of this study were to investigate the suitable food industrial byproducts and conditions affecting proteinase production of Virgibacillus sp. SK37 as well as to evaluate fibrinolytic activity of secreted proteinases. Among 5 food industrial wastes including soybean pomace, rice bran, mungbean protein, spent brewery yeast sludge (Ys), and fish sauce sludge, Ys was the best nitrogen source for proteinase production from Virgibacillus sp. SK37. The highest level of proteinase production was obtained in the medium containing 1% Ys, 2.5% NaCl, pH 7.5 at 40°C, which was about 1.7 times higher than the commercial yeast extract medium. Virgibacillus sp. SK37 proteinases completely hydrolyzed fibrinogen within 50 min with Aα-chain being the first target and followed by Bβ- and Γ-chains. Virgibacillus sp. SK37 could be a potential source of fibrinolytic enzyme that can be developed as a functional food ingredient.     

Purification and Characterization of Proteinase from Atlantic Menhaden Muscle

Two proteinases (A and B) were isolated from Atlantic menhaden muscle with molecular weights of 112,000 and 90,500 daltons, respectively. Proteinase B had higher activity than A for protein substrates except casein; proteinase B had no caseinolytic activity. Both proteinases hydrolyzed synthetic substrates such as Z-Phe-Arg-NMecand TAME, but not BAEE and BAPNA. Optimum Z-Phe-Arg-NMec hydrolyzing activity was shown at pH 7.4, 40 to 50 °C for both proteinases A and B. Activities of A and B in the presence of 3.0% NaCl were reduced to 71.2% and 62.2%, respectively. Both proteinases were inhibited by 1 mM TLCK, 1 mM benzamidine, 1% egg white, and 1% bovine plasma hydrolysate. Proteinases A and B are most likely tryptic serine type proteinases.     

Acceleration of Thai fish sauce fermentation using proteinases and bacterial starter cultures

ABSTRACT:  A means to accelerate fish sauce fermentation without adversely affecting fish sauce quality was investigated. Starter cultures prepared from Virgibacillus sp. SK33, Virgibacillus sp. SK37, and Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 were added separately to anchovy that was hydrolyzed by 0.25% Alcalase at 60 °C for 2 h followed by 0.5% Flavourzyme at 50 °C for 4 h. The mixtures were then adjusted to contain 25% solar salt and incubated at 35 °C for 4 mo. α-Amino contents of all inoculated samples were higher than the control (without the addition of starter culture) during the course of fermentation. After 4-mo fermentation, the samples inoculated with Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 contained the highest α-amino content of 733.37 ± 13.89 mM while that of the control was 682.67 ± 3.33 mM. Amino acid profiles of inoculated samples showed similar patterns to that of commercial product fermented for 12 mo, with glutamic, aspartic, and lysine being predominant amino acids. Virgibacillus sp. SK33 appeared to decrease histamine content of fish sauce by 50% when compared to the control. Volatile compounds analyzed by GC–MS of all inoculated samples fermented for 4 mo exhibited a similar pattern to those of the 12-mo-old commercial product. Samples inoculated with Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 produced higher levels of volatile fatty acids and showed similar sensory characteristics to the commercial fish sauce fermented for 12 mo. Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 is a potential strain that can be applied to produce fish sauce with overall sensory characteristics of traditional fish sauce in shorter time.     

Purification and Characterization of Alkaline Proteinase from Atlantic Menhaden Muscle

Two alkaline proteinases (A and B) were isolated and found to be composed of homogeneous subunits. These proteinases, A and B, were concentrated 62.9-and 986.5-fold compared to the crude muscle extract, with molecular weights of 707,000 and 450,000, respectively. Both are probably serine type proteinases, and optimum caseinolytic activity was shown at pH 8.0 and 55 °C. Both degraded actomyosin under similar conditions. Enzyme A had higher thermal stability than B. The residual activities of A and B in 3.6% NaCl solution were 95% and 85%. These data suggest that these proteinases are involved in the softening of menhaden surimi gels which occurs during heating at 50 to 70 °C.     

嗜盐性蛋白酶产生菌Virgibacillus sp. P-4的筛选鉴定及其特性分析

利用酪蛋白琼脂平板从传统虾酱中分离嗜盐性蛋白酶产生菌,经形态学、生理生化和分子生物学鉴定,确定该菌隶属于枝芽孢杆菌属Virgibacillus sp.P-4,并用此菌为后续研究菌株。结果表明,该菌最适生长温度为30~37℃,最适生长NaCl质量分数为5%~15%;所产胞外蛋白酶在20~50℃条件下酶活力较高且保持稳定,最适反应温度为40℃,当NaCl质量分数为15%时酶活力达到最高,并且所产胞外蛋白酶种类可能不只一种,但不包含巯基蛋白酶;通过分析酶解液中游离氨基酸释放速率,预测其酶切位点为Phe-、Tyr-、Lys-、His-、Pro-及Leu-。     

Autolytic activity and biochemical characteristics of endogenous proteinases in Indian anchovy (Stolephorus indicus)

Maximum autolytic activity of Indian anchovy (Stolephorus indicus) was found at 60 °C. Autolytic activity decreased with increased NaCl concentration. Remaining autolytic activity at 25% NaCl (w/w) was 52%. Crude proteinase extracts exhibited the highest activity at 60 °C, using either casein or acid-denatured hemoglobin (dHb) as a substrate. Optimal pH of crude extracts was found at 8.5 for casein and 9.5 for dHb. Activity of crude extract decreased >50% when NaCl concentration was greater than 0.1 M. Crude extract was stable for up to 8 h at 4, 30, and 60 °C. Crude proteinase hydrolyzed several synthetic substrates of trypsin, including Boc-Asp(oBzl)-Pro-Arg-MCA, Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-MCA, and Boc-Gln-Ala-Arg-MCA. Soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), leupeptin, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and N-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) inhibited activities of proteinase, indicating trypsin-like characteristics. Molecular weight of proteinases exhibiting caseinolytic activity at 4.0 M NaCl were estimated to be 63, 53, 46, 40, 35, and 31 kDa, using electrophoresis activity staining.     

Production and purification of antioxidant peptides from a mungbean meal hydrolysate by Virgibacillus sp. SK37 proteinase

Antioxidant peptides of mungbean meal hydrolysed by Virgibacillus sp. SK37 proteinases (VH), Alcalase (AH) and Neutrase (NH) were investigated. The antioxidant activities based on 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical-scavenging, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal chelation of VH were comparable to those of NH. VH was purified using ultrafiltration, ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The purified peptides (F37) from VH, which had the highest specific antioxidant activity, consisted of four peptides containing an arginine residue at their C-termini. In addition, the ABTS radical-scavenging activity of the purified peptides (F42) at 0.148 mg/ml was comparable to that of 1 mM of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These two fractions were stable over a wide pH (4–10) and temperature (25–121 °C) range. Virgibacillus sp. SK37 proteinase is a potential processing-aid for the production of a mungbean meal hydrolyzate with antioxidant properties.     

Characterization of milk coagulating properties from the extract of Withania coagulans

Plant aspartic proteinases (APs) from Withania coagulans were extracted by using NaCl (0.85%) and were characterized by pH, temperature stability, rennet strength and CaCl₂ supplementation. Additionally, the milk-clotting enzyme was partially purified by fractional precipitation with ammonium sulphate and acetone followed by column chromatography of the most active fraction, giving specific activity of 12 307.6 U/mg. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at 4.25 pH and 37°C, which suggested its use in making cheese requiring moderate temperatures (Mozerella, Cheddar). The enzymatic activity increases as the concentration of CaCl₂ increases and decreases with the increase of temperature. SDS analysis showed the presence of a single unique band having a molecular weight of 66 KDa.     

Autolysis and the endogenous proteinases characterised in beardless barb (Anematichthys apogon) muscle

Beardless barb is a common fish species used in fermentation of fish paste Ka-pi-plaa. Autolytic profile of beardless barb muscle showed the maximum autolysis was at 50 °C, at both acidic and alkaline pH values. With augmentation concentration of NaCl, autolytic activity slightly decreased. Endogenous proteinases isolated from fish muscle in crude extract forms were also characterised. The acidic proteinases had optimum activity at pH 3.0 and 50°C, and they showed higher proteolytic activity than the alkaline proteinases which were optimally active at pH 9.0 and 50 °C. Proteinases in peak at pH 3.0 were inhibited by pepstatin A, but those in peak at pH 9.0 were highly inhibited by PMSF, TLCK and soybean trypsin inhibitor, suggesting that both aspartic and serine proteinases were existed in beardless barb muscle. The proteinases were stable in pH range of 2.0-5.0 but unstable at the temperatures higher than 40 °C. NaCl suppressed the proteolytic activity, ATP activated the proteinase activity, while CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and CoCl₂ exhibited no influence on the activity. The results implied that cathepsin D is the predominant proteinase responsible for autolysis in beardless barb. The findings were useful to improve the processing and qualities of Ka-pi-plaa product using beardless barb as raw material.     

Autolysis and biochemical properties of endogenous proteinases in Japanese sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus)

Autolysis of Japanese sandfish ( Arctoscopus japonicus ) was studied. The highest autolysis was observed at 60 °C. Optimal pH for autolysis was found at both acidic and alkaline pH values. Autolytic activity decreased with increasing NaCl concentration. Further assay of the extract from Japanese sandfish exhibited the maximum activity at 55 °C and pH 9.5. The Japanese sandfish proteinases were markedly inhibited by pepstatin A at pH 3.5, while soybean trypsin inhibitor, PMSF and TLCK inhibited activities of proteinases at pH 9.5, suggesting Japanese sandfish proteinases were both aspartic and serine proteinases. The extracts were stable to heat treatment up to 50 °C for 15 min and still remained high relative activity after incubated at 50 °C for up to 8 h. Maximum stability of the extracts was observed between pH 6 and 11 and no changes of activity were found after incubation at pH 9.5 for up to 8 h. Activity of Japanese sandfish extract continuously decreased as NaCl concentration increased (0–30%), while activity increased as CaCl₂ concentration increased. The results suggest that major proteinases in Japanese sandfish were trypsin-like serine proteinases.     

Proteolytic Degradation of Tropical Tilapia Surimi

Proteolytic degradation of tropical tilapia surimi was biochemically and rheologically characterized to identify a group of proteinase(s) responsible for its textural degradation. Proteolysis of tilapia surimi occurred as the temperature increased and attained the highest activity at 65 °C. Smaller proteins with molecular weight of 116-97 kDa were noted as a result of myosin heavy chain (MHC) degradation. MHC completely disappeared when incubated at 65 °C for 4 h. Proteolysis was significantly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SB) and leupeptin (LE). Storage modulus (G') of surimi gels mixed with either SB or LE was higher than other inhibitors indicating that serine type proteinase(s) were involved in proteolysis of tropical tilapia surimi.     

Identification of a cysteine proteinase from Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) hepatopancreas as cathepsin L

A cysteine proteinase from Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) hepatopancreas was partially purified by a two step procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography and further by SDS–PAGE. The molecular weight of the proteinase was 24 kDa determined by SDS–PAGE and 23.7 kDa with mass spectrometry. The activity had an optimum pH of 4.5 and optimum temperature of 55 °C under the assay for cathepsin L specific synthetic substrate Z-PAAFC. The cathepsin B and H specific synthetic substrates Z-AAAFC and H-AMC did not show any hydrolysis with the partially purified enzyme. Peptide mapping of trypsin digests of the 24 kDa band from SDS–PAGE showed the squid cysteine proteinase was homologous to cathepsin L from different animal sources. The activity of the partially purified fraction with the cathepsin L specific substrate Z-PAAFC was inhibited 75–89% by enzyme inhibitors specific for cysteine proteinases but was also significantly inhibited by serine and aspartate proteinase inhibitors.     

The Impact of NaCl Substitution with KCl on Proteinase Activities Cell-Free Extract and Cell-Free Supernatant at Different pH Levels and Salt Concentrations: Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus

The effect of NaCl substitution with KCl at different pH levels (6.0, 5.5, and 5.0) and salt concentrations on proteinase activities of cell-free and supernatant of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus 11824 (L. bulgaricus) and Streptococcus thermophilus MS (ST) was investigated. MRS broths were separately mixed with 4 salt treatments (NaCl only, 1NaCl:1KCl, 1NaCl:3KCl, and KCl only) at 2 different concentrations (5% and 10%) and incubated at 37 °C for 22 h. The cell pellets were used to prepare proteinase of cell-free extract and the cell-free supernatants were used as source of extracellular proteinases. The proteolytic activities and protein contents of both fractions were determined. The supernatants after incubation of both fractions with 3 milk caseins (α-, β-, κ-casein) were subjected to angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitory (ACE-inhibitory) activity and proteolytic activity by ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) method. Significant differences were observed in ACE-inhibitory activities and proteolytic (OPA) between salt treatments of cell-free extract and cell-free supernatant of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus at same salt concentration and same pH level. There was a significant effect of pH level and salt treatments interaction on ACE-inhibitory activity, OPA activity and azocasein activity. Practical Application: To reduce sodium concentration in cheese by substituting of NaCl with KCl, it was important to study the effect on starter culture proteinases which play a vital role in ripening and texture profile of cheese.     

Purification,structural characterization,and technological properties of an aspartyl proteinase from submerged cultures of Mucor mucedo DSM 809

An extracellular aspartyl proteinase from Mucor mucedo DSM 809 submerged cultures was purified by a two-steps chromatographic procedure. The enzyme had a molecular weight (MW) of 32.7 kDa, and an isoelectric point (pI) value of 4.29; no evidence of N-linked glycosylation was found. As judged by mass spectrometry, the primary structure of the M. mucedo enzyme presented homology with Rhizopus spp. proteinases. The secondary structure showed 4% α-helix, 48% β-sheet and 48% random coil structure in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.8), as evidenced by circular dichroism spectroscopy. When acting on milk to provoke curd formation, the proteinase showed maximum potency at pH 5.0 and at 40 °C. The enzyme was heat-sensitive and became completely inactivated after incubation at 55 °C for 10 min. These results indicate that the milk-clotting enzyme from M. mucedo can be considered as a potential substitute for bovine chymosin in cheese manufacturing.     

Partial purification and characterization of trypsin-like proteinases in Indian anchovy (Stolephorus spp.)

Four fractions (P111, P21, P31, and P4) of proteinases were obtained from various purification steps including heat treatment (60 °C, 10 min), 30–60% ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and gel filtration chromatography. Optimal temperature and pH of all fractions were 50–60 °C and 8.5, respectively. All partially purified proteinases preferably hydrolyzed substrates containing Arg at the P₁ position. All proteinases were inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor, leupeptin, and N-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone. Partially purified proteinases were stable at 35 °C up to 12 h. However, their activity decreased about 40% when incubated at the optimal temperature (50–55 °C) for 2 h. Only P111 was stable at its optimal temperature (60 °C) up to 12 h. Molecular weight (MW) of P111, P21, and P31 was estimated to be 27, 33, 37, 43, 48, 55, 60, and 65 kDa, while MW of P4 was 39 kDa based on activity staining. All partially purified proteinases hydrolyzed washed anchovy mince at 4.0 M NaCl, pH 8.5, at 35 °C and at their optimal temperatures (50–60 °C).     

鲅鱼副产物中产蛋白酶微生物的分离与表征

目的 以鲅鱼副产物为实验材料,定向筛选高产蛋白酶的野生菌株。方法 以脱脂牛奶培养基对鲅鱼副产物中的产蛋白酶微生物进行初筛,采用福林酚方法对各菌株产蛋白酶的活力进行测定,复筛出具有高产碱性蛋白酶和中性蛋白酶的野生菌株,并通过分子生物学方法(16S rDNA测序分析)对高产蛋白酶菌株进行物种鉴定。进一步通过测定高产菌发酵过程中的菌株浓度和蛋白酶活力,分析菌株随发酵时间的生长情况和产酶动力学。结果 采用选择性培养基初步筛选获得8株具有蛋白酶活性的菌株,进一步复筛发现两株菌Z3和Z8菌株产蛋白酶的能力较强[碱性蛋白酶活力分别为(393.87±19.69)、(358.87±17.94)U/mL;中性蛋白酶活力分别为(344.87±17.24)、(291.20±14.56)U/mL]。经分子生物学测序比对分析菌株Z3和Z8分别鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillussubtilis)和蜡样芽孢杆菌(Bacilluscereus)。对两株菌的生产情况和产酶能力进行研究,发现两株菌的产酶模式均为部分生长偶联型,枯草芽孢杆菌Z3菌株合成碱性蛋白酶和中性蛋白酶的能力优于蜡样芽孢杆菌Z8。结论 本研究从鲅鱼副产...     

A heat-stable trypsin inhibitor in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis): effect of extraction media, purification and biochemical characteristics

Trypsin inhibitor from adzuki bean ( Vigna angularis ) seed was isolated and characterised. Extraction of seed with NaCl at the concentration of 0.15  m showed a higher recovery of trypsin inhibitor than other solvents tested ( P  <   0.05). Optimal extraction time for the recovery trypsin inhibitor from adzuki bean seed was 30 min ( P  <   0.05). Purification of inhibitor was achieved by heat-treatment at 90 °C for 10 min, followed by ammonium sulphate precipitation with 30–65% saturation and size exclusion chromatography on Sephacryl S-200, presenting a yield and purification of 53.9% and 10.91-fold, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of trypsin inhibitor was estimated to be 14 kDa based on SDS-PAGE and inhibitor activity of zones separated by electrophoresis. The purified inhibitor was stable over a broad pH range and retained high inhibitory activity toward trypsin after incubation at 90 °C for 60 min. NaCl, at 0–3% concentration, did not affect the inhibitory activity of purified trypsin inhibitor, however, the activity was lost when sample was treated with β-mercaptoethanol prior to electrophoresis.