Lipase production byGeotrichum candidum from sauerkraut brine.

Sauerkraut brine could serve as a substrate for the production of extracellular lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) byGeotrichum candidum ATCC 34614. The fungus produced the highest specific activity (more than 140 units/mg protein) when cultivated in shake flasks for 72 h at 30°C in the brine, with a small amount of olive oil (0.3%, v/v) as an enzyme inducer. Lipase activity was recovered from the culture filtrate by fractionation with acetone and the yield was as high as 59%.