Streptomyces sp. KISl3 isolated from soil was found to produce low molecular weight thiol protease inhibitors. The protease inhibitor production was closely linked to the cell growth and regulated by growth condition. The inhibitor was purified from the culture broth through butanol extraction, silicagel 60 column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 gel filtration and preparative HPLC. The inhibitor showed specific inhibitory activity to thiol protease such as papain, picin and bromelain. The mode of inhibition against papain to Hammersten casein as a substrate was non-competitive.