Other

Scholl, Inc.

Keith T Holland

Elizabeth A Eady

William J Cunliffe

A process for the degradation of keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen or collagenaceous material comprising contacting keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen or collagenaceous material with an enzyme material isolated from a culture of Micrococcus sedentarius. The enzyme material comprises one or more proteases having the ability to degrade keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen or collagenaceous material. The enzyme material is water soluble, non-dialysable through a membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 10 kDa, has an isoelectric point of 4.6 or 2.7, a molecular weight of 30.3 kDa or 50 kDa, an optimum pH for protease activity at about 8.2 or at about 10.2 and an optimum temperature for protease activity at about 40.degree. C. or 46.degree. C.

Process for degradation of keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen and

An enzyme material isolated from a culture of Micrococcus sedentarius which comprises one or more proteases having an ability to degrade protein, including human callus. In one embodiment the enzyme material is water soluble, non-dialyzable through a membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 10 kDa, has an isoelectric point of 4.6, a molecular weight of 30.3 kDa, an optimum pH for protease activity at about 8.2, and functions at an optimum temperature of about 40.degree. C. In another embodiment, the enzyme material is water-soluble, non-dialyzable through a membrane having a molecular weight cut off of 10 kDa, has an isoelectric point of 2.7, a molecular weight of 50 kDa, an optimum pH for protease activity at about pH 10.2, and functions at an optimum temperature of about 46.degree. C.

Protease from Micrococcus sedentarius for degrading protein of human

The invention relates to an antibiotic polypeptide compound, or addition salt thereof, having a molecular weight no greater than 10000 and possessing bactericidal and bacteriolytic activities in respect of Gram-positive bacteria, the said compound comprising within the molecular structure thereof amino acid derivative units of formulae --NR--R.sub.1 --CO--, --NH--R.sub.2 --CO--, --NH--R.sub.3 --CO--, --NH--R.sub.4 --CO--, --NH--R.sub.5 --CO--, --NH--R.sub.6 --CO--, --NH--R.sub.7 --CO-- and ##STR1## wherein NH.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --COOH, NH.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --COOH, NH.sub.2 --R.sub.3 --COOH, NH.sub.2 --R.sub.4 --COOH, NH.sub.2 --R.sub.5 --COOH, NH.sub.2 --R.sub.6 --COOH and NH.sub.2 --R.sub.7 --COOH respectively represent isoleucine, phenylalanine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine and glycine and ##STR2## represents proline. The invention further provides a process for the preparation of antibiotic polypeptides by the aerobic culturing of a strain of S. epidermidis. The invention also provides compositions comprising antibiotic substances and methods of treatment therewith. The invention further provides a new strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis which produces the antibiotic polypeptides, compositions containing the said strain and a method of cosmetic or prophylactic treatment of the human skin with such compositions.

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Leeds, United Kingdom

Keith T Holland