An extracellular protease with depilation activity from Streptomyces nogalator

An extracellular protease-producing actinomycete, Streptomyces nogalator strain Ac 80, was isolated from soil. Mutants of the strain designated as Mt C producing protease of higher (3.0 mg tyrosine liberated/min/mg protein) and Mt L of lower (0.9 mg tyrosine liberated/min/mg protein) specific activity as compared to that of the wild type (1.8 mg tyrosine liberated/min/mg protein) were selected. Proteolytic activity of the wild type and the mutants correlated with their depilation capacities. Proteolytic enzyme produced by Mt C in solid state fermentation was purified to homogeneity, and partially characterized (molecular mass, 66 kDa by SDSPAGE). It was found to be efficient in depilation of goatskin.