Nocardiopsis

Nocardiopsis is a genus of alkalophilic bacteria in the order Actinomycetales found in soil, with Nocardiopsis dassonvillei as the type species. Members are producers of a number of industrially interesting enzymes, including proteinases and glycosidases that remain active under alkaline conditions where conventional enzymes fail. This extremotolerant biochemistry attracts developers of detergent, leather, and food-processing enzymes, since alkaline-active proteases can function in cleaning formulations and in processes run at high pH. The genus illustrates how prospecting unusual habitats yields biocatalysts with properties tailored to demanding industrial conditions.