ABSTRACT
The feasibility of using proteinase producing fungus Humicola lutea 120-5 as a source of extracellular acid phosphatase was investigated. To enhance the acid phosphatase yield and significantly reduce the proteolytic activity the composition of casein-glucose medium containing inorganic phosphate (Pi) was modified. The regulation of phosphatase formation was controlled by Pi. The repression influence of Pi on the synthesis of phosphatase was established. A reduction of Pi (KH(2)PO(4)) concentration from 1.0 to 0.01 g/l caused approximately 5-fold increase of the phosphatase (1200 U/I) and 3-fold decrease of the proteinase (10 U/ml). The omission of Pi from the medium in which the casein (phosphoprotein) was the sole phosphatase source resulted in higher phosphatase yield (2000 U/l) and lower proteolytic activity (7.5 U/ml). Different concentrations of glucose and casein were tested to obtain the optimal medium for maximal acid phosphatase production and minimal level of proteinase. The highest acid phosphatase activity of 2500 U/l and the least amount of acid proteinase (5.5 U/ml) were achieved in 72 h shake-flask culture using Pi-free medium containing glucose and casein in concentrations of 20 and 4 g/l, respectively. The ability of the fungus H. lutea 120-5 to dephosphorylate casein providing orthophosphate for cell growth was discussed.
ABSTRACT
Humicola lutea 120-5 spores were entrapped in polyurethane sponge cubes and were cultivated inside the carrier to form an immobilized mycelium further used for production of acid proteinases in batch mode. A carrier--spore suspension ratio of 10:0.5 (wt) should be used to obtain optimal results. The polyurethane sponge-immobilized mycelium could be applied repeatedly, the enzyme activity secreted during the first 10 cycles being about the same as that produced by free cells. The advantages of immobilizing fungal cells by germinating conidia entrapped inside the supporting material are discussed.
