An intracellular protease form cells of Pseudomonas carboxydovorans DSM 1227 grown on carbon monoxide was purified 57-fold in six steps to homogeneity with a yield of 4.3% using azocoll as a substrate. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 150,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis revealed the purified enzyme to be a dimer with two identical subunits of molecular weight 72,000. The enzyme was stimulated by $Mg^{2+}$ but was inhibited completely by $Cd^{2+}$ $Fe^{2+}$ $Hg^{2+}$, and $^Zn{2+}$ The enzyme activity was also inhibited by EDTA, EGTA, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and phenyl glyoxal, but was increased by 1-ethyl-3(dimethyl aminopropyl fluoride, and phenyl glyoxal, but was increased by 1-ethyl-3(dimethyl aminopropyl)carbodiimide, iodoacetamide and dithiothereitol. The optimal pH and temperature for the enzyme reaction were found to be 7-8 and 50.deg.C, respectively. Casein and bovine serum albumin were hydrolyzed by the enzyme, but carbon monoxide dehydrogenase was not.