The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of mature proteases in bacterial host cells. The compositions include polynucleotides encoding serine protease sequences with modified or heterologous propeptide regions; polypeptides comprising serine proteases with modified or heterologous propeptide regions; expression cassettes, DNA constructs, vectors, and chromosomes comprising such polynucleotides; and bacterial host cells comprising such polynucleotides. The methods include methods for enhancing the production of mature proteases in bacterial host cells (e.g. Bacillus sp. host cells). The produced proteases find use in the industrial production of enzymes, suitable for use in various industries, including but not limited to the cleaning, animal feed and textile processing industry.