알칼리성 protease를 생산하는 호알칼리성 균주를 분리하여 Bacillus pseudofirmus HS-54로 동정하였고, HS-54가 생산하는 알칼리성 protease를 ammonium sulfate 침전, DEAE cellulose chromatography, sephadex G-100 gel filtration을 통과시켜 정제하였는데, 정제된 protease의 분자량은 27 kDa 이었다. 정제된 효소의 반응최적 pH는 10.0이었고 pH 7.0-11.0에서 비교적 안정하였다. 또한 정제된 효소의 반응최적 온도는 50℃이었고 10-55℃에서 안정하였다. 금속이온에 대한 영향은 Ca²?와 Mg²? 등에 의해 효소활성이 촉진되었으나, Hg²?, Zn²?, Cu²?, Al³? 등에 의해서 효소활성이 저해되었다. 본 효소는 PMSF에 의해 강하게 저해를 받는 것으로 보아 serine protease에 속하는 것으로 판단된다.
An alkalophilic bacterium producing alkaline protease was isolated from waste water and solar saltern sample and identified as Bacillus pseudofirmus HS-54 based on morphological, biochemical characteristics as well as 16S-rRNA gene sequencing. The HS-54 protease was purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE cellulose column chromatography, and sephadex G-100 gel filtration with a 4.0 purification fold. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 27 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature for the purified protease activity were 10.0 and 50℃, respectively. The purified enzyme was relatively stable at the pH range of 6.0-11.0 and at the temperature below 50℃. This enzyme was activated by Ca²? and Mg²? and inhibited by Hg²?, Cu²?, Zn²?, Al³?, Ag²?. And this enzyme was strongly inhibited by PMSF, suggesting that it belongs to the serine protease superfamily.