Biosynthesis of proteases by Rhizopus oligosporus IHS13 in low-cost medium by solid-state fermentation.

The present study describes the biosynthesis of proteases by a locally isolated mould culture of Rhizopus oligosporus IHS13 in a low-cost medium by solid-state fermentation technique. The fermentation was carried out in a low-cost medium such as sunflower meal, wheat bran and rice bran. Sunflower meal and wheat bran in a ratio of 1:1 and moistened with distilled water was found to be the best substrate for protease synthesis. All the three substrates are very cheap agricultural by-products found in Pakistan. The production of proteases in sunflower meal and rice bran was also investigated but the results were unsatisfactory. Different cultural conditions such as rate of fermentation, effect of incubation temperature, effect of pH and depth of the fermentation medium were also optimized. The maximum enzyme synthesis was found after 72 h of fermentation at a temperature of 30 degrees C. The optimum pH and depth of the medium for protease synthesis were found to be 5.0 and 20 mm respectively. The maximum enzyme biosynthesis found during the course of present studies was 7.0 U ml(-1). Copyright 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim