A new cuticle scale hydrolysing protease from beauveria brongniartii

• Main Author: Erlacher, Angelika
• Publication Date: 2006
• Other Authors: Sousa, Fernanda, Schroeder, M., Jus, S., Kokol, V., Paulo, Artur Cavaco, Gübitz, Georg M.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/12954
• topic: Wool; Cuticle; Protease; Beauveria brongniartii; Science & Technology

From a screening for the production of new proteases specific for cuticle scales, Beauveria brongniartii was selected producing an alkaline Ca++ dependent protease. The purified had a molecular weight of 27 kDa and a pI value of 8.0. Substrate specificities of model substrates (wool with partially removed cuticles treated with SDS) were analyzed by protein release, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen analysis. The C/N ratio of released material turned out to be a good parameter to determine the site of action of proteases on fibres. Compared to other enzymes, the fungal protease preferentially hydrolyzed cuticle scales and has thus a potential for antishrinking pre-treatment of wool fabrics.