PROTEOLYTIC-ENZYMES OF NOCARDIA-MINIMA - ACCUMULATION IN THE MEDIUM AND SOME PROPERTIES

The accumulation dynamics of extracellular proteinases with plasmin-li ke and activatory mechanisms of action (belonging to the subtilisin fa mily of the class of serine proteases and the class of metalloproteina ses, respectively) were followed during the course of growth of Nocard ia minima, strain 1. The sequence of the appearance of extracellular p roteinases and their activity at various, growth phases of the produce r suggested their participation in processes of the morphophysiologica l transformations accompanying the transition from mycelium to rods an d from rods to cocci. The proteinases produced by N. minima showed spe cificity to either human or bovine blood fibrin. The specific pattern of proteinases (absence of chymotrypsin-like enzymes typical of strept omycetes, presence of metalloproteinases typical of bacilli) and the d istinctive features of N. minima subtilisins distinguishing them from subtilisins of bacilli and streptomycetes agree well with the intermed iate taxonomic position of N. minima.