Cell-free extracts from Pyrococcus furiosus were found to possess unusually high levels of proteolytic activity as measured by hydrolysis of azocasein; loss in activity was only 30% after incubation for 24 hours at 98.degree. C. and the half-life of proteolytic activity at that tempe
Cell-free extracts from Pyrococcus furiosus were found to possess unusually high levels of proteolytic activity as measured by hydrolysis of azocasein; loss in activity was only 30% after incubation for 24 hours at 98.degree. C. and the half-life of proteolytic activity at that tempe