Proteolytic activity of Bacillus cereus strains

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of conducted research was to assess proteolytic activity of Bacillus cereus strains, depending on the source of proteins in a growth medium and temperature. Two Bacillus cereus strains: G10 and A96, isolated from soil and water respectively, were applied in the research. The source of carbon in the growth media was provided by the protein substrates as follows: albumin, casein and skimmed milk. The temperature ranged between 30 and 60oC. The proteolytic activity was determined with the use of a spectrophotometric method with 2% casein as a substrate, at the wavelength λ = 560 nm. In the experiment, the proteolytic activity depended on the type of protein substrate in the growth medium and the temperature. B. cereus G10 strain showed the highest activity at 30oC in case of albumin and the lowest in the growth medium with skimmed milk. At temperatures 40 and 50oC the most favourable medium was with an addition of skimmed milk and the least favourable with albumin. Proteolytic activity was not recorded when the temperature was the highest and the medium contained skimmed milk, whereas at the same temperature the lowest activity was noted again in the medium with albumin. Bacillus cereus A96 strain showed, however, different activity. The highest activity was noted at tempertaures of 30 and 50oC in the medium with skimmed milk, and the lowest in the medium with casein. The opposite was noted at 40oC, as no proteolytic activity was recorded in the presence of skimmed milk while the highest was recorded in the presence of casein. When analysing the influence of the temperature on the proteolytic activity, it has been noted that strains of Bacillus cereus are the most vigorous at the temperature of 30 and 40oC, and the least vigorous at 50 and 60oC. The highest recorded values for the screened strains have been obtained at 30 and 40oC in the medium with skimmed milk.