Abstract: An alkaline protease, method for producing the same and detergents containing the protease as an aid are disclosed. The alkaline protease is obtained by cultivating in a medium the microorganism SD523 FERM BP-3774 or artificial mutants or genetically engineered variants thereof which have the ability of producing the alkaline protease. The alkaline protease has: (1) an optimum pH of from about 11 to 11.5 as measured after reaction at 30.degree. C. for 10 minutes using casein as a substrate and an optimum temperature of about 60.degree. C. as measured after reaction at pH 10 using casein as a substrate; (2) a half inactivation temperature of about 55.degree. C. as measured after reaction at pH 10 for 10 minutes; and (3) a molecular weight of 29,000.+-.2,000 as measured by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has improved storage ability in liquid detergents as compared with known alkaline proteases produced by known microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacillus firmus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a collagen powder having a good dispersion stability, in which the content of particles having a particle size smaller than 40 .mu.m is at least 85% by weight, the water absorption is 120 to 300%, and the apparent bulk density is 0.10 to 0.30 g/cc. This collagen powder is advantageously used for a leather-like surface layer-forming agent and a leather-like molded article.