A novel aspartic protease from the viscera of Sardinelle (Sardinella aurita): Purification and characterisation

► Purification of a novel aspartic protease from the viscera of Sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) ► Biochemical and kinetic characteristics of acidic protease. ► The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 17 kDa by SDS-PAGE. ► The optimum pH and temperature for protease activity were around 3.0 and 40 °C, respectively. The enzyme showed pH stability between 2.0 and 5.0. ► The N-terminal 12 amino acid sequence of the purified acidic protease was R V I I E D X D Q F C T.