To obtain the subject new protein produced by Bifidobacterium longum, comprising conjugated bile acid-deconjugating enzyme (BSH) protein having BHS activity and used as a base material for food and drink, medicines and the like capable of regulating a serum cholesterol concentration.
This new conjugated bile acid-deconjugating enzyme (BSH) protein is defined by the amino acid sequence expressed by the formula, produced by Bifidobacterium longum and useful as a material and the like for chemical reagents, food and drink, medicines and the like capable of controlling human serum cholesterol concentration. The new protein has BHS activity, 37,000±2,000 molecular weight (molecular weight of a subunit) in a denaturated state and 130,000±10,000 molecular weight (molecular weight under a physiological state) in a non-denaturated state. The deconjugating activity to taurine- conjugating type bile acid is two times higher than that to the glycine- conjugating type bile acid, the optimum pH is 6, the enzyme activity is stable at pH 4.5-7.6, the optimum temperature is 40°C and the enzyme activity is stable at 4-37°C.
DOESBURG KLAAS
IGOO MIERAU
ASHIZAWA ATSUSHI
