6-Aminohexanoate Oligomer Hydrolases from the Alkalophilic Bacteria <i>Agromyces</i> sp. Strain KY5R and <i>Kocuria</i> sp. Strain KY2

Abstract

Alkalophilic, nylon oligomer-degrading strains, Agromyces sp. and Kocuria sp., were isolated from the wastewater of a nylon-6 factory and from activated sludge from a sewage disposal plant. The 6-aminohexanoate oligomer hydrolases (NylC) from the alkalophilic strains had 95.8 to 98.6% similarity to the enzyme in neutrophilic Arthrobacter sp. but had superior thermostability, activity under alkaline conditions, and affinity for nylon-related substrates, which would be advantageous for biotechnological applications.