Title:  Thermolysin 
CAS Registry Number:  9073-78-3 
Additional Names:  Bacillus thermoproteolyticus neutral proteinase;  EC 3.4.24.27 
Literature References:  Proteolytic enzyme of mol wt 37,500 that hydrolyzes protein bonds on the N-terminal side of hydrophobic amino acid residues.  Contains a zinc atom essential for activity and four Ca2+ ions essential for thermal and conformational stability.  Isoln from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus:  S. Endo, J. Ferment. Technol. 40, 346 (1962).  Properties and amino acid composition:  Y. Ohta et al., J. Biol. Chem. 241, 5919 (1966).  Site of enzymatic hydrolysis:  Y. Ohta, Y. Ogura, J. Biochem. 58, 607 (1965).  Substrate specificity studies:  H. Matsubara et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 21, 242 (1965); 24, 427 (1966); K. Morihara, H. Tsuzuki, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 118, 215 (1966).  Stability studies:  Y. Ohta, J. Biol. Chem. 242, 509 (1967).  Inhibition studies:  H. Matsubara et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 34, 719 (1969); J. Murphy et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 202, 405 (1980).  Purification:  H. Matsubara, Methods Enzymol. 19, 642 (1970).  Structure studies:  K. Titani et al., Nature 238, 35 (1972); B. W. Matthews et al., ibid. 37, 41; P. M. Colman et al., J. Mol. Biol. 70, 701 (1972).  Function of the metal ions:  J. Feder et al., Biochemistry 10, 4552 (1971); G. Voordouw, R. S. Roche, ibid. 14, 4667 (1975); R. S. Roche, G. Voordouw, Crit. Rev. Biochem. 5, 1 (1978).  Effect of the histidyl residue on the mechanism of action:  S. Blumberg et al., Isr. J. Chem. 12, 643 (1974); M. K. Pangburn, K. A. Walsch, Biochemistry 14, 4050 (1975).  Review:  Experientia 26, Suppl., 31-59 (1976). 
Properties:  Crystals.  uv max:  280 nm (e 66,300).  Optimum pH 7.0-8.5; stable at pH 6.0-9.0.  The refrigerated lyophilized enzyme is stable for months; frozen enzyme soln can be kept for weeks without significant loss of activity.  Not deactivated at 65°, but loses half of its activity upon heating at 80° for 1 hr. 
Absorption maximum:  uv max:  280 nm (e 66,300) 
Use:  In studies of protein sequences.   |