Isolation of a Pseudomonas species from fish intestine that produces a protease active at low temperature.

A psychrotrophic bacterium producing a protease active at low temperatures was isolated from fish intestine and identified as a Pseudomonas species. Optimum growth and protease-producing temperatures of this strain were 15 degrees C and 10 degrees C, respectively. The maximum temperature for proteolytic activity was 25 degrees C, an unusually low temperature.