Characterization of pyrolysin, a hyperthermoactive serine protease from the archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus

From the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus an oxygen-stable, extremely thermostable protease activity, which we designate pyrolysin, has been identified and characterized. Pyrolysin is a cell-envelope associated protease activity high thermo-activity and stability. The temperature optimum is 115°C and half-life values in the absence of substrate are: at least 96 h at 80°C, 9 h at 95°C, 4h at 100°C, 20 min at 105°C and 3 min...