현재 probiotics로 상업화되어 있는 B. coagulans IDCC 1201(상업용 명칭 : Lactobacillus sporogenes)이 acid phytase 및 $Co^{2+}$를 cofactor로 갖는 metalloenzyme 특성을 가진 phytase를 생산하고, cofactor로 사용되는 $Co^{2+}$ ion이 B. coagulans IDCC 1201 유래 phytase의 열 안정성에 기여하였다. 또한 B. coagulans IDCC 1201의 phytase 유전자 서열을 분석한 결과 B. subtilis 168 유래의 enzyme 서열과 높은 상동성을 나타내었다. 본 연구결과를 토대로 B. coagulans IDCC 1201 장내 균총의 정상화를 가져와, 질병 예방과 면역력 향상을 구현함과 동시에 가축이 곡물에 함유된 phytic acid의 섭취로 인한 항영양인자, 환경오염등의 문제점을 해결할 수 있는 사료 첨가제로써의 산업적 효용가치가 풍부할 것으로 전망된다.
A native extracellular acid phosphatase, phytase (EC 3.1.3.8), from Bacillus coagulans IDCC 1201 (commercially known as Lactobacillus sporogenes) used as probiotics, was characterized. Though some strains of B. coagulans have been evaluated with regard to several health-promoting effects, it has not been reported to produce phytase. Partially purified phytase front the strain IDCC 1201 had a pH optimum of 4.0 and a temperature optimum of $50^{circ}C$, respectively. The requirement for divalent cations was studied and cobalt ion remarkably increased the enzyme activity. The removal of metal ions from the enzyme by EDTA decreased activity below 50%. The enzyme activity depleted restored when the assay was performed in the presence of $Co^{2+}$. Also, $Co^{2+}$ is the most active stimulator and has unique activation effect at high temperature. The phytase was specific for sodium phytate and p-nitrophenylphosphate, which is different from other known Bacilli phytases. The putative amino acid sequences of the phytase from B. coagulans IDCC 1201 were very similar to that of the phytase from B. subtilis strain 168. Based on these data, we concluded that the phytase from B. coagulans IDCC 1201 is a $Co^{2+}$-dependent acid phosphatase. Therefore, the strain B. coagulans IDCC 1201 is thought to be a valuable addititive for livestocks as well as a beneficial probiotics for human.
