An alkaline protease producing strain Pencilium oxalicum KRSS-S-FP10 was isolated from beach soil samples collected from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh and enzyme production was optimized under submerged conditions. Maximum enzyme production of the culture occurred at 30°C temperature and pH 9.0. glucose 28.02 U/mL and soya bean meal 23.80±0.01U/mL proved to be the best carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme determined by SDS-PAGE was found to be 28 kDa. The enzyme acted optimally at pH 9.2 and 50°C. It was thermo stable and retained full activity even at the end of 1 hour of incubation at 40°C. It was inhibited by Cu++, Fe++ , no activity found with Zn++ and PMSF. The enzyme retained more than 50% activity after 60 min incubation at 40°C in the presence of tannic acid, gallic acid, propyl gallate, methyl gallate and with natural plant tannins used for the tanning process indicating its suitability for application in leather processing industry.
