Mutations in Arthrobacter Affecting the Formation of Extracellular Protease

Abstract

Seventeen mutants of a strain of Arthrobacter, producing altered amounts of extracellular protease, were isolated. One mutant had lost the ability to form wild type extracellular protease. Despite this loss, the mutant demonstrated proteolytic activity due to leakage of a thermolabile intracellular proteinase. Chemical, immunological and catalytic properties of this enzyme show that it is not related to the extracellular protease of the wild type.