Maturation Process and Characterization of a Novel Thermostable and Halotolerant Subtilisin-Like Protease with High Collagenolytic Activity but Low Gelatinolytic Activity
Kui Zhang, Qianqian Huang, Yu Li, Lanhua Liu, Xiaofeng Tang, Bing Tang
Abstract
Proteolytic degradation of collagen at high temperatures has the advantages of increasing degradation efficiency and minimizing the risk of microbial contamination. Reports on thermostable collagenolytic proteases are limited, and their maturation and catalytic mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Our results demonstrate that the thermophile-derived TSS matures in an autocatalytic manner and represents one of the most thermostable collagenolytic proteases reported so far. At elevated temperatures, TSS prefers hydrolyzing insoluble heat-denatured collagen rather than gelatin, providing new insight into the mechanism of collagen degradation by thermostable collagenolytic proteases. Moreover, TSS has the potential to be used in recycling collagen-rich wastes such as fish scales.