Poly (L-lactide) (PLLA)-degrading enzyme was produced in a liquid culture of Amycolatopsis sp. (strain 41). In comparison with polyester substrates, silk powder from silkworm cocoons was the most effective in inducing enzyme production within 5 d. Application to DEAE and Superdex 75 columns resulted in a major protein with molecular weight estimated to be 42 kDa from size exclusion chromatography or 40 kDa from SDS-PAGE analysis. Optimum pH and temperature are 6.0 and 37–45°C, respectively. Besides PLLA, the enzyme degrades casein, silk powder and Suc-(Ala)3-pNA at an even lower level than Proteinase-K, but not Suc-(Gly)3-pNA, poly (ε-caprolactone) and poly (β-hydroxybutyrate).
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Pranamuda et al. (2001) studied this question.