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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Biotechnological characterisation of exocellular proteases produced by enologicalHanseniasporaisolates

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Summary Twenty-six enological Hanseniaspora isolates were identified by ITS PCR-RFLP and D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA sequencing and assayed for exocellular protease production. Based on qualitative data, six isolates, belonging to H. guilliermondii, H. valbyensis and H. occidentalis species, were selected to continue the study. Analytical procedure was optimised, and protease activities were quantified and characterised on the basis of different biotechnological factors. Protease activity was quite glucose, fructose and ethanol content independent, but divalent cation affects activity; these data support that they were aspartic proteases. The effect of 2-mercaptoethanol suggests the importance of disulphide bonds to maintain the structure of the active centre. Our results show these enzymes could be suitable for using in biotechnological processes at neutral pH, such as cheese, bread and meat industries. This is, to our knowledge, the first work showing the induction process to induce and characterise proteolytic activity in Hanseniaspora isolates.