Alkaline protease produced by a bacillus

Claim 2

A process for the preparation of an enzyme having high proteolytic activity in alkaline media comprising cultivating Bacillus strain PB 92 in a nutrient medium and recovering the formed proteolytic enzyme.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the nutrient media contains carbon, nitrogen, calcium salts, magnesium salts and trace elements under aerobic conditions.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the fermentation broth is filtered, the enzyme is precipitated from the filtrate, recovering and drying the precipitate to recover the enzyme.

Claim 5

An alkaline protease produced by cultivation of Bacillus nov. sp. PB 92 and characterized by the following properties: a optimal proteolytic activity at a pH value above 12, said activity being measured against denatured hemoglobin according to the Anson method, b. consisting of at least three proteolytically active components showing a characteristic zymogram following disc electrophoresis as shown in the accompanying figure, c. the two main components having the following amino acid composition: ______________________________________ c) the two main components having the following amino acid composition: ______________________________________ component 1 component 2 Lysine 6 6 Histidine 7 6 Arginine 9 8 Asparctic acid 27 28 Threonine 16 16 Serine 30 30 Glutamic acid 15 15 Proline 12 13 Glycine 31 33 Alanine 36 36 Cystine 0 0 Valine 22 22 Methionine 3 3 Isoleucine 8 9 Leucine 18 18 Tyrosine 7 6 Phenylalanine 2 2 Tryptophan 3 3 ______________________________________ d. the two main components having the following physical properties ______________________________________ d) the two main components having the following physical properties ______________________________________ isolectric point 10.5 10.5 molecular weight 25,500 25,500 ______________________________________ e. showing an improved washing action in perborate containing washing compositions.

Claim 6

An alkaline protease produced by cultivation of Bacillus nov. sp. PB 92 and characterized by the following properties: a optimal proteolytic activity at a pH value above 12, said activity being measured against denatured hemoglobin according to the Anson method, b. consisting of at least three proteolytically active components showing a characteristic zymogram following disc electrophoresis as shown in the accompanying figure, c. the two main components having the following amino acid composition: ______________________________________ c) the two main components having the following amino acid composition: ______________________________________ component 1 component 2 Lysine 6 6 Histidine 7 6 Arginine 9 8 Asparctic acid 27 28 Threonine 16 16 Serine 30 30 Glutamic acid 15 15 Proline 12 13 Glycine 31 33 Alanine 36 36 Cystine 0 0 Valine 22 22 Methionine 3 3 Isoleucine 8 9 Leucine 18 18 Tyrosine 7 6 Phenylalanine 2 2 Tryptophan 3 3 ______________________________________ d. the two main components having the following physical properties ______________________________________ d) the two main components having the following physical properties ______________________________________ isolectric point 10.5 10.5 molecular weight 25,500 25,500 ______________________________________ e. showing an improved washing action in perborate containing washing compositions.

Claim 7

A washing composition containing an effective amount of the enzyme of claim 4 having a high proteolytic activity in alkaline media.

Claim 8

The washing composition of claim 5 also containing a detergent, a water softener, an alkali metal silicate, a weakly alkaline bicarbonate and optionally an alkali metal per borate.

Claim 9

A method of cleaning textiles comprising washing textiles in an aqueous solution containing an effective amount of the washing composition of claim 6.