EXPRESSION AND SECRETION OF HETEROLOGOUS PROTEASES BY CORYNEBACTERIUM-GLUTAMICUM

Genes encoding the basic protease of Dichelobacter nodosus (bprV) and the subtilisin of Bacillus subtilis (aprE) were cloned and expressed i n Corynebacterium glutamicum. In each case, enzymatically active prote in was detected in the supernatants of liquid cultures. While the secr etion of subtilisin was directed by its own signal peptide, the natura l signal peptide of the bprV basic protease did not facilitate secreti on. A hybrid aprE-bprV gene in which the promoter and signal peptide c oding sequences of subtilisin replaced those of bprV could be expresse d, and basic protease was secreted by C. glutamicum. Expression of the se proteases in C. glutamicum provides an opportunity to compare prote in secretion from this gram-positive host with that from other gram-po sitive and gram-negative bacteria.