title: Nattokinase: production and application.
abstract: Nattokinase (NK, also known as subtilisin NAT) (EC 3.4.21.62) is one of the most considerable extracellular enzymes produced by Bacillus subtilis natto. The main interest about this enzyme is due to its direct fibrinolytic activity. Being stable enough in the gastrointestinal tract makes this enzyme a useful agent for the oral thrombolytic therapy. Thus, NK is regarded as a valuable dietary supplement or nutraceutical. Proven safety and ease of mass production are other advantages of this enzyme. In addition to these valuable advantages, there are other applications attributed to NK including treatment of hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, and vitreoretinal disorders. This review tends to bring a brief description about this valuable enzyme and summarizes the various biotechnological approaches used in its production, recovery, and purification. Some of the most important applications of NK, as well as its future prospects, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
authors.forename: Manica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negahdaripour
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berenjian
authors.forename: Abdolazim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behfar
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Mozhdeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.forename: Cambyz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Irajie
authors.forename: Younes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D013381:Subtilisins; C053771:nattokinase