Question

B. subtilis has a number of problems that have hindered its commercial adoption mainly due to:

(a) Increased levels of proteins

(b) Decreased levels of proteins

(c) Increased levels of proteases

(d) Decreased levels of proteases

I have been asked this question at a job interview.

Enquiry is from Guidelines for Choosing Host-Vector Systems topic in portion Utilizing Genetically Engineered Organisms & Medical Applications of Bioprocess Engineering of Bioprocess Engineering

Answer 1

Right answer is (c) Increased levels of proteases

To explain: A primary concern has been that B. subtilis produces a large amount and variety of proteases. These proteases can degrade the product very rapidly. Mutants with greatly reduced protease activity have become available, but even these mutants may have sufficient amounts of minor proteases to be troublesome. B. subtilis is also much more difficult to manipulate genetically than E. coli because of a limited range of vectors and promoters.