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The enzymatically active form of protease 1, the major exocellular protein produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 34362, has been shown to exist exclusively exocellularly with no significant cell-associated activity. However, the presence of a cell-associated, enzymatically inactive protein which is serologically cross-reactive with, and convertible to, active enzyme has been demonstrated. One method of conversion of "precursor" to active enzyme is via limited proteolysis. Two assay systems for precursor were developed, one a radioimmune assay, and the other a proteolytic activation procedure. Localization studies suggest that the association while more tenacious than classical periplasmic enzymes is still an ionic rather than a covalent one. Kinetics of production studies showed to precursor to be synthesized early in the growth cycle and to accumulate prior to the rapid release of the active enzyme. Molecular weight studies showed only slight changes produced upon activation.

Exocellular protease production was examined in two separate strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one a clinical isolate and the other a laboratory strain. Both strains produced two separate proteases (proteases 1 and 2) which were indistinguishable from one strain to the other. The two proteases were purified by a two-step procedure of gel filtration chromatography followed by ion-exchange chromatography. Proteases 1 and 2 were shown to be distinct serologically and unrelated by physiochemical parameters examined. Protease 1 was the major exocellular protein produced and contributed about 95% of the total protease activity of the culture. It was etimated to have a molecular weight of 34850 and was also shown to contain 10% glucosamine by weight. Protease 2, in contrast, had an estimated molecular weight of 52750 and contained no detectable carbohydrate. Proteases 1 and 2 were both stimulated by Ca2+, and Mg2+ and inhibited by Co2+Zn2+, and 1,10-o-phenanthroline. Protease 1 was also inhibited by EDTA. In addition to protease activity, both proteases 1 and 2 demonstrated elastase activity as well as a limited collagenase activity. Specificity of the two protease against synthetic peptides was, however, quite different. Protease 1, but not protease 2, showed a preference for peptide bonds in which the amino group was contributed by an amino acid with a hydrophovic R group.