We isolated an acidophilic thermophile belonging to the genus Bacillus, strain NTAP-1, which secreted a thermostable collagenolytic activity into the culture medium. The collagenolytic activity exhibited an optimum pH for Azocoll hydrolysis of pH 3.9 and was not completely inhibited by 10 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (residual activity, 63%), suggesting that Bacillus NTAP-1 produces a novel acid proteinase with highest activity for collagen. The collagenolytic activity was thermostable; more than 80% of the original activity was retained after incubation of the culture supernatant at pH 4.0 and 60 degrees C for 4 h.
