Production and some properties of a new type of acid carboxypeptidase of Penicillium molds.

Among some 38 strains of the genus Penicillium we investigated seven wild-type strains (P. daleae IFO-6087, P. frequentans AHU-8328, P. funiculosum IAM-7013, P. janthinellum IFO-8070, IAM-7026, P. lividum IAM-7200, and P. oxalicum AHU-8336) that were found to be excellent strains for a new type of acid carboxypeptidase production in a surface koji culture at 25 C. The production of acid carboxypeptidase was determined in various culture conditions in a koji culture. The maximum yields of acid carboxypeptidase were obtained by P. janthinellum IFO-8070. Partial purification and isolation of the acid carboxypeptidase from strains of Penicillium were performed with gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-100. Characterization studies indicate that the acid carboxypeptidases from P. daleae IFO-6087, P. funiculosum IAM-7013, P. janthinellum IFO-8070, and P. oxalicum AHU-8336 have some properties similar to those of the enzyme of Aspergillus saitoi with regard to the hydrolysis of several peptides at acidic pH range but have other slightly different properties with regard to stability, pH optima, inhibitors, and molecular weights.