Enzymatic Properties of Protease from the Hepatopancreas of Shrimp, Penaeus japonicus

A protease purified from hepatopancreas of shrimp, Penaeus japonicus, had maximum activity at $70^{\circ}C$ and in neutral and alkaline pH ranges. Specific activity at optimum reaction condition of the protease was estimated to be approximately 12 U/mg/min. The protease was stable in neutral and alkaline pH ranges and activity was retained after heat treatment at $50^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. Apparent $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ value against casein substrate were estimated to be $0.29\%$ and $7.8see^{-1}$, respectively, and those against N-CBZ-L-tyrosine p-nitropheny1 ester (CBZ­Tyr-NE) were 0.38 mM and $2,400 see^{-1}$, respectively. The N-termina1 sequence of the protease showed high homology to the trypsin from same species and the proteases from shrimp. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) from shrimp tail meat was the most susceptible to the protease and actin/tropomyosin were degraded progressively during 4 hr incubation, but to a lesser degree than MHC.