Abstract

ACTIVITY SCREENING AND OPTIMIZATION OF MARINE FUNGAL STRAINS FOR PROTEASE ACTIVITY

Ayona Jayadev*

ABSTRACT

Marine fungal isolates were screened for protease enzyme activity in this study. Fungal strains were isolated from marine water samples using appropriate culture medium and culture techniques. All the strains isolated were first screened for protease production in skimmed milk agar and the positive strains were later assayed for protease enzyme activity. Three fungal strains (VF 1, VF 2 and VF 3) were found to be protease producing among the fungi isolated. Media conditions were optimized for these strains. It was found out that the strain VF 2 is a potent protease producer at a pH of 7 and at 37°C. The maximum protease activity was on 3rd day of incubation. In case of the other two strains, VF 1 showed good activity on the 9th day of incubation. The activity of VF 3 was almost comparable in all the pH, temperature and incubation period studied.

Keywords: Protease, Assay, Marine fungi, optimization.