Versatility of subtilisin: A review on structure, characteristics, and applications

Abstract

Due to its thermostability and high pH compatibility, subtilisin is most known for its role as an additive for detergents in which it is categorized as a serine protease according to MEROPS database. Subtilisin is typically isolated from various bacterial species of the Bacillus genus such as Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. licheniformis, and various other organisms. It is composed of 268-275 amino acid residues and is initially secreted in the precursor form, preprosubtilisin, which is composed of 29-residues signal peptide, 77-residues propeptide, and 275-residues active subtilisin. Subtilisin is known for the presence of high and low affinity calcium binding sites in its structure. Native subtilisin has general properties of thermostability, tolerance to neutral to high pH, broad specificity, and calcium-dependent stability, which contribute to the versatility of subtilisin applicability. Through protein engineering and immobilization technologies, many variants of subtilisin have been generated, which increase the applicability of subtilisin in various industries including detergent, food processing and packaging, synthesis of inhibitory peptides, therapeutic, and waste management applications.

Phylogenetic survey of the subtilase family and a data-mining-based search for new subtilisins from Bacillaceae

“…The great potential of the data mining approach becomes clear when looking at the huge number of 247.897 hits (January 31, 2022) that were found when searching for S8 peptidases within the NCBI identical protein groups database. Within this second part of our study, we focused on subtilisins derived from Bacillaceae because they are right now the most relevant industrial proteases ( Maurer, 2004 ; Azrin et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Members of the subtilase family find a wide range of applications in industry, such as lactocepins playing an important economic role in the industrial production of cheese and fermented milk ( Broadbent and Steele, 2013 ). Of particular interest within this study are subtilisins, which find applications in several industrial sectors such as in detergents, leather processing, food, wastewater treatment, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals ( Kalisz, 1988 ; Solanki et al, 2021 ; Azrin et al, 2022 ). They are typically isolated from various species of the genus Bacillus such as B. subtilis , B. licheniformis , Shouchella clausii (formerly Bacillus clausii ), etc.…”

Biodegradation of Pine Processionary Caterpillar Silk Is Mediated by Elastase- and Subtilisin-like Proteases

“…Other candidates were discarded according to their biological activity (Glutathione hydrolase proenzyme; protein number 1), or their minor character (Proteins 4 and 14—Minor extracellular proteases Epr; protein 9—minor extracellular protease vpr). Among the remaining extracellular proteins, protein 13 (subtilisin Carlsberg Ser-endopeptidase) particularly attracted our attention because it is an extracellular alkaline serine protease, catalyzing the hydrolysis of proteins and peptide amides that shows high specificity for aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids at the P1 position of the substrate [ 19 , 20 ]. According to Shaw and Smith [ 11 ], and our own results, aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids are abundant in pine processionary fibroin and therefore this protein may contain a high number of potential cleavage sites that would allow for its efficient degradation.…”

“…According to Shaw and Smith [ 11 ], and our own results, aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids are abundant in pine processionary fibroin and therefore this protein may contain a high number of potential cleavage sites that would allow for its efficient degradation. Subtilisin Carlsberg also exhibits a number of other attractive properties, such as high thermostability, wide range of pH compatibility, and broad specificity [ 20 ], that make it an ideal candidate for its putative involvement in silk degradation, so we decided to focus on it for further studies.…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Bacillus velezensis K-9 Against Potato Scab and Its Genome-wide Analysis

“…The genes of these three enzymes are often used as indicator genes to screen for the production of novel structural natural active compounds [17][18] . Subtilisin, an antimicrobial substance synthesized by the ribosome pathway, has the characteristics of good stability and strong acid-base adaptability, and has antibacterial effect on most Gram-positive bacteria 19 . FliP genes play a role in the agellum-speci c transport system.…”