Microcystinase

Microcystinase is a protease that selectively degrades microcystin, an extremely potent cyanotoxin that causes marine pollution and can lead to 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.