Alkaline protease produced by a bacillus

Claim 2

A process for the preparation of an enzyme having high proteolytic activity in alkaline media and exhibiting high alkaline stability which comprises cultivating Bacillus strain GX6644 or an alkaline protease producing mutant or variant thereof in a fermentation medium and recovering therefrom the enzyme produced by said Bacillus strain.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein the fermentation medium comprises carbon, nitrogen, magnesium salts, calcium salts and trace elements.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1, wherein following cultivation of the Bacillus strain the fermentation medium is centrifuged to remove cellular material, then the enzyme is concentrated in the supernatant, precipitated from said supernatant and recovered.

Claim 5

A member of the group consisting of Bacillus novel species GX6644 and its alkaline protease producing mutants and variants.

Claim 6

A member of the group consisting of Bacillus novel species GX6644 and its alkaline protease producing mutants and variants.

Claim 7

A biologically pure culture of Bacillus strain GX6644 or an alkaline protease producing mutant or variant thereof.

Claim 8

A biologically pure culture of Bacillus strain GX6644 or an alkaline protease producing mutant or variant thereof.

Claim 9

A substantially pure alkaline protease characterized by the following properties: (a) a molecular weight of about 26,500; (b) an isoelectric point of about 9.5; (c) an optimal proteolytic activity at a pH of about 11.0 at a temperature of 40° C., said optimal activity measured by the Delft method using 0.4% STPP as buffer and casein as substrate; (d) an optimal activity at 45°-50° C. at a pH of 8.5 or 10.0, said optimal activity measured by the Delft method using casein as substrate; (e) an amino acid composition of: ______________________________________ amino acid GX6644 ______________________________________ LYS 4 HIS 5 ARG 8 ASP 31 THR 13 SER 16 GLU 15 PRO 9 GLY 39 ALA 39 CYS 0 VAL 26 MET 5 ILE 11 LEU 13 TYR 4 PHE 5; ______________________________________ (f) distinct immunological cross-reactivity as determined by the Ouchterlony double diffusion method; and (g) an NH 2 -terminus of glutamine.

Claim 10

A substantially pure alkaline protease characterized by the following properties: (a) a molecular weight of about 26,500; (b) an isoelectric point of about 9.5; (c) an optimal proteolytic activity at a pH of about 11.0 at a temperature of 40° C., said optimal activity measured by the Delft method using 0.4% STPP as buffer and casein as substrate; (d) an optimal activity at 45°-50° C. at a pH of 8.5 or 10.0, said optimal activity measured by the Delft method using casein as substrate; (e) an amino acid composition of: ______________________________________ amino acid GX6644 ______________________________________ LYS 4 HIS 5 ARG 8 ASP 31 THR 13 SER 16 GLU 15 PRO 9 GLY 39 ALA 39 CYS 0 VAL 26 MET 5 ILE 11 LEU 13 TYR 4 PHE 5; ______________________________________ (f) distinct immunological cross-reactivity as determined by the Ouchterlony double diffusion method; and (g) an NH 2 -terminus of glutamine.

Claim 11

A washing composition containing an effective amount of the enzyme of claim 6 having high alkaline stability.

Claim 12

The washing composition of claim 7 which further comprises a detergent.

Claim 13

The washing composition of claim 8, which further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of a detergent builder, foam booster, fragrance and coloring agent.

Claim 14

The washing composition of claim 8, wherein said detergent is selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated alcohol and a linear alkyl sulfonate.

Claim 15

The washing composition of claim 9 wherein the detergent builder is nitriloacetate, trisodium salt.