Abstract

OPTIMIZATION OF NOVEL PROTEASE PRODUCTION THROUGH SUBMERGED FERMENTATION BY ASCIDIAN ASSOCIATED VIBRIO SP., GA CAS2

*Gnanakkan Ananthan

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the extracellularthermostable and organic solvent tolerant capacity of protease fromascidian associated bacteria Vibrio sp., GA CAS2. The bacterium wasidentified through 16S rRNA and biochemical methods. Its proteaseproducing was evaluated by shake flask experiment. The isolated strainwith high protease yield was optimized with respect to pH,temperature, carbon, nitrogen, metal ions, organic solvents and NaClconcentration. Lactose was observed to be the suitable carbon sourcefor maximum protease production over the control. The most suitablenitrogen source for protease production was potassium nitrate andsodium nitrate. Screening the effect of surfactant on proteaseproduction revealed that Tween 80 resulted in maximum proteaseproduction. Among the tested metal ions, zinc sulphate showed a better production.Chloroform was found to be the best organic solvent in protease production. Testing theeffect of various NaCl concentrations, 3% NaCl showed the maximum production comparedto other concentrations. The best condition for better activity of the crude enzyme wasobserved at pH 9 and a temperature of 55°C.

Keywords: Ascidian associated bacteria, protease, Vibrio sp., Polyclinum glabrum.