ISOLATION OF THERMOSTABLE D-HYDANTOINASE-PRODUCING THERMOPHILIC BACILLUS SP SD-1

A thermophilic bacterium which showed highest thermostability and acti vity of the hydantoinase was isolated from 1,000 thermophiles and iden tified to be Bacillus sp. SD-1 according to morphological and physiolo gical characteristics. The optimal growth temperature of the bacterium was about 60 degrees C. The hydantoinase of Bacillus sp. SD-1 was str ictly D-specific, and optimal pH and temperature were determined to be about 8.0 and 70 degrees C, respectively. The D-hydantoinase was stab le upto 70 degrees C, and half-life of the enzyme was about 20 min at 80 degrees C.