Full Length Research Paper

Optimization of culture parameters to enhance production of amylase and protease from Aspergillus awamori in a single fermentation

Sangeeta Negi¹* and Rintu Banerjee²

¹Biotechnology Section, Applied Mechanics Department, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, 221 004 Teliarganj, Allahabad, India.

²Agriculture and Food Engineering Department, Microbial Biotechnology, 721302 Kharagpur, India.

*Corresponding author. Email: sn5@mnnit.ac.in. Tel: +919415015811.

Fax: +91-532-2271200.

Accepted 27 January, 2010

   Abstract

Concomitant production of amylase and protease by Aspergillus awamori nakazawa MTCC 6652 was enhanced in a single fermentation by media engineering and optimization of other important parameters. Wheat bran was considered as a suitable substrate for production of amylase and protease by A. awamori in a single fermentation as none of the additional substrate such as powder of peanut, corn, soybean seeds and sunflower seeds was effective in enhancing the concurrent production of enzymes further. Optimum amylase yield of 4528.4 ± 121U/gds and protease yield of 250.4 ± 10 U/gds was achieved with wheat bran to Czapek-dox ratio of 1:1.5 (w/v), 96 h incubation, 35˚C temperature, pH 5.5 and 85% relative humidity. Media engineered with 1% casein and 1% starch solution increased yield of amylase and protease by 2.07 fold (9386.5 ± 101 U/gds) and 3.73 fold (934.8 ± 67 U/gds), respectively, therefore, considered as the most suitable  media for concomitant production of amylase and protease by A. awamori in a single fermentation.

Key words: Amylase, protease, solid state fermentation, optimization.