Isolation and Characterization of an Alkaline Protease Producing Bacillus subtilis (KHS-1) from Slaughterhouse Soil Samples

Abstract

Fifteen among 54 bacterial isolates had exhibited the prominent zone of hydrolysis on casein and skimmed milk agar media. One isolate KHS-1 had showed the highest proteolytic activity (47 mm) on both casein and skimmed milk media. Pure culture was deposited in microbial type culture collection and Gene bank (MTTC), Chandigarh, India and its MTTC No. is 10110. The optimum conditions for the production of extra cellular protease by KHS-1 were 37 ºC, pH 8.5 and 96 h of incubation period under shake flask culture at 150 rpm. The protease has the ability of dehairing of goat skin, degradation of gelatinous coating of X-ray films and degrading the blood clot proteins.