Microcystinase

Microcystinase is a protease that selectively degrades Microcystin, an extremely potent cyanotoxin that results in marine pollution and human and animal food chain poisoning. The enzyme is naturally produced by a number of bacteria isolated in Japan and New Zealand. As of 2012, the chemical structure of this enzyme has not been scientifically determined.[1] The enzyme degrades the cyclic peptide toxin microcystin into a linear peptide, which is 160 times less toxic.[2] Other bacteria then further degrade the linear peptide.

Refs

  1. ↑ "Heterologous expression and characterisation of microcystinase". Toxicon. 59 (5): 578–86. Apr 2012. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.01.001. PMID 22326726.
  2. ↑ http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.microbiology/2013/596429/
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