Abstract

PRODUCTION, CHARACTERISATION AND COPPER INDUCTION OF FUNGUS ASPERGILLUS NIGER

Manisha Shetty, Prateeksha Chelkar, Jenitta Emima Packiyam E, Rama Bhat P*, Jayadev K. and Shrinidhi Shetty

ABSTRACT

The fungi Aspergillus niger was obtained and stored at 4ºC. The enzyme L- asparaginase was produced and the enzyme activity and the protein content were estimated. The enzyme characterization was done by studying the effect of pH and temperature on asparaginase activity and the optimum day for enzyme production were also determined. For the induction of enzyme production, copper was used at different concentrations. Among these, 100μM CuSO4 induced maximum asparaginase activity. The change in enzyme activity induced by heavy metal ions might be used as an indicator in a cell culture growing under stress conditions.

Keywords: Aspergillus niger, copper, fungal growth, optimization.