Microcystinase

Microcystinase is a protease that selectively degrades Microcystin, an extremely potent cyanotoxin that results in marine pollution and human and animal food chain poisoning. The enzyme is naturally produced by a number of bacteria isolated in Japan and New Zealand. As of 2012, the chemical structure of this enzyme has not been scientifically determined.^[1] The enzyme degrades the cyclic peptide toxin microcystin into a linear peptide, which is 160 times less toxic.^[2] Other bacteria then further degrade the linear peptide.

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