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
^Dziga, Dariusz; Wladyka, Benedykt; Zielińska, Gabriela; Meriluoto, Jussi; Wasylewski, Marcin (Apr 2012). "Heterologous expression and characterisation of microcystinase". Toxicon. 59 (5): 578–86.
doi:
10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.01.001.
PMID22326726.