Production of Transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 Using Glycerol as Carbon Source

Simón J. Téllez-Luis¹, José A. Ramírez¹ and Manuel Vázquez<sup>1,2*

1</sup>Department of Food Science and Technology, U. A. M. Reynosa-Aztlán, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Apdo. Postal 1015, Reynosa, 88700 Tamaulipas, Mexico
²Área de Tecnología de los Alimentos, Departamento Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela – Campus de Lugo, E-27002 Lugo, Spain

Article history:
Received February 4, 2004
Accepted April 15, 2004

Key words:
transglutaminase, glycerol, casein, Streptoverticillium ladakanum

Summary:
The enzyme transglutaminase (TG) catalyses the formation of covalent bonds between adjacent proteins, thereby improving the gel structure of proteins and has important applications for the food industry. The aims of this work were: (i) to elucidate the effect of agitation speed during the biotechnological production of TG by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 using glycerol as carbon source; and (ii) to improve TG production by optimising the composition of media based on glycerol, xylose and casein. An agitation speed of 250 rpm and a fermentation time of 72 h resulted in the optimal enzymatic activity (0.628 U/mL) with a productivity of 0.087 U/(mL·h). The composition of media with glycerol, xylose and casein were optimised using an experimental design to improve TG production. The model predicts that the maximum TG activity (0.725 U/mL) can be obtained using glycerol 50.5 g/L and casein 20 g/L without the addition of xylose.

*Corresponding author:           This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
                                               ++34 982 285 926