Metal content and conformation of the metalloprotease from the marine sponge Spheciospongia vesparia.

We have recently purified a protease from the marine sponge Spheciospongia vesparia. It consists of a single nonglycosylated polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 29 600 and has one free thiol group. Metal analysis revealed the presence of zinc at 2.02 +/- 0.05 g-atoms per mole of protein, as measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The circular dichroism spectrum in the far UV region (183-259 nm) indicates that the sponge protease contains appreciable amounts of beta sheet. This enzyme resembles very much an aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica concerning activity and some physiochemical characteristics.