Abstract
We present here an electrophoretic method to analyze proteases involved in tideland sediments based on a modified method reported by Heussen and Dowdle. The method revealed at least five proteases with different molecular masses in the tideland sediments from the Rokkaku River in Saga City. These proteases are selectively distributed in the soil fraction, but not in the tideland seawater. The electrophoretic analysis showed that there were marked differences in the protease patterns obtained from the sediments of various estuary tidelands; the Kamo River in Takehara City, the Enko River in Hiroshima City, and the Rokkaku River in Saga City. These results suggested that the proteases secreted from microorganisms into the tideland sediments are significantly influenced by the microorganism species and also environmental conditions that surround the tidal flats.
Moreover, we have found that the activities of the proteases revealed in an electrophoretic gel were quantitatively analyzed using image editing software.
