Screening and molecular classification of low-temperature protease from Antarctic microorganism and its characterization

107 strains producing protease were screened from 260 strains of Ant-arctic psychrophilic bacteria,among which proteolytic activity of five strains wasmore than 45 U ml.The 16S rRNA gene sequences homology and phylogenet-ic analysis of five Antarctic psychrophilic bacteria showed that NJ276、NJ5-9、NJ16-70、NJ345 belonged to the described genus Pseudoalteromonas and NJ341belonged to the genus Colwellia.The growth and the protease characteristic offour Antarctic psychrophilic bacteria had been studied,and the result showedthat the optimal temperature for growth and protease-producing of four strainswas about 10℃.Their growth and protease-producing were still high during in-cubating 2-5 days.The maximum proteolytic activity occurred at pH 9 for fourAntarctic psychrophilic bacteria.The optimal temperature of protease action ofboth strains NJ276 and NJ5-9 was about 50℃,however,the optimal temperatureof protease action of both strains NJ341 and NJ345 was about 40℃,and theirproteolytic activity under 0℃ exhibited nearly 30% of the maximum activity,but their thermal stabilities were weaker.These results indicated that proteasesfrom NJ341 and NJ345 were low-temperature proteases.