A new cuticle scale hydrolysing protease from beauveria brongniartii

• Author(s): Erlacher, Angelika ; Sousa, Fernanda ; Schroeder, M. ; Jus, S. ; Kokol, V. ; Paulo, Artur Cavaco ; Gübitz, Georg M.
• Date: 2006
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/12954
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Wool; Cuticle; Protease; Beauveria brongniartii
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

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.