Partial Purification and Characterization of Alkaline Protease from Bacillus sp. Isolated from Soil

Bacillus isolates were analyzed for alkaline protease production on casein containing agar plates and identified by clear zones of casein hydrolysis around colonies. Two gram positive Bacillus isolates S5 and C3 which showed the best enzyme production were studied for purification by precipitation and dialysis. The intracellular alkaline protease enzyme was purified about 4 fold with a yield of 9.8% for isolate S5 and about 2 fold with a yield of 18% for isolate C3. The pH and temperature optima of partially purified alkaline protease were determined to be 9 and 40°C, respectively. Such alkaliphilic proteases from these isolates have a great economical and environmental impact to alleviate the pollution problem created by leather and other industries.