First bacterial G1 enzyme and substrates found in Denmark

Danish scientists have detected the first known bacterial enzyme and substrate in the G1 family, previously thought to arise only in fungal entities.

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen and enzyme-based bio-industrial products generator Novozyme collaborated on the study, which is published in BMC Biochemistry.

They explain that the value of new enzyme and substrate combinations arises from their ability to withstand industrial processing conditions, such as high temperatures or extremes of pH.

In their research, Novozyme scientists found a novel strain of the bacteria Alicyclobacillus to demonstrate properties associated with fungally derived G1 peptidase.

Further investigation determined the optimal conditions for the bacteria to occur at low pH - around three to four on the acidity scale - and at a relatively high temperature of 60 degrees C.

They conclude that their bacterial glutamic peptidase, named pepG1, may be added as the first known bacterial member of the G1 family in the MEROPS database.