Arginase from Bacillus thuringiensis SK 20.001: Purification, characteristics, and implications for l-ornithine biosynthesis

► An arginase from B. thuringiensis SK 20.001 was purified and characterized. ► The effects of amino acid residues on the arginase activity were investigated. ► The Km and Vmax for l-arginine were estimated to be 15.6 mM and 538.9 μmol/min/mg. ► The biosynthesis yield of l-ornithine was 72.7 g/L with the enzyme.