Detergent alkaline proteases: enzymatic properties, genes, and crystal structures

J Biosci Bioeng. 2007 Jun;103(6):501-8. doi: 10.1263/jbb.103.501.

Abstract

Subtilisin-like serine proteases from bacilli have been used in various industrial fields worldwide, particularly in the production of laundry and automatic dishwashing detergents. They belong to family A of the subtilase superfamily, which is composed of three clans, namely, true subtilisins, high-alkaline proteases, and intracellular proteases. We succeeded in the large-scale production of a high-alkaline protease (M-protease) from alkaliphilic Bacillus clausii KSM-K16, and the enzyme has been introduced into compact heavy-duty laundry detergents. We have also succeeded in the industrial-scale production of a new alkaline protease, KP-43, which was originally resistant to chemical oxidants and to surfactants, produced by alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain KSM-KP43 and have incorporated it into laundry detergents. KP-43 and related proteases form a new clan, oxidatively stable proteases, in subtilase family A. In this review, we describe the enzymatic properties, gene sequences, and crystal structures of M-protease, KP-43, and related enzymes.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacillus / enzymology
  • Bacillus / genetics
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Detergents / chemistry*
  • Detergents / history
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • History, 20th Century
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / history
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Detergents
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • microbial serine proteinases