Thermomyces lanuginosus CBS 395.62/b Strain as Rich Source of α-Galactosidase Enzyme
Judit M. Rezessy-Szabó*, Quang D. Nguyen, Erika Bujna, Krisztina Takács, Magdolna Kovács and Ágoston Hoschke
Szent István University, Department of Brewing & Distilling, Ménesi út 45, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
Article history:
Received: November 4, 2002
Accepted: January 24, 2003
Key words:
α-galactosidase, fermentation, enzyme production, Thermomyces lanuginosus
Summary:
Seventeen Thermomyces lanuginosus strains, cultivated on raffinose and sucrose, were ranked on the basis of α-galactosidase activities. T. lanuginosus CBS 395.62/b strain showed the highest α-galactosidase activity on both investigated carbohydrates. Several carbon sources were tested as potential inducers for the α-galactosidase synthesis. On melibiose substrate α-galactosidase activity was higher in the intracellular fraction than in the filtrate of the fermentation broth, although both values were very low and did not reach the value of 1 U/mL. Raffinose, sucrose and Lactosucrose® proved to be inducers for α-galactosidase production. The highest titer (about 30 U/mL) was achieved on 1 % sucrose and 0.45 % ammonium acetate. The optimum sucrose and ammonium acetate concentrations, at which about 90 U/mL α-galactosidase activity was reached during an 8-day fermentation, were 3 and 0.9 %, respectively.
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