Efficient Media for High Lipase Production: One Variable at a Time Approach

BACKGROUND: Lipase enzymes have applications in a wide range of industries. A crucial determining factor of industrial prices of these enzymes is the culture media composition that is constantly under review by researchers. In this work, for maximum lipase production by Bacillus sp. ZR-5, culture media compositions were optimized using ″one variable at a time″ strategy. METHODS: For this purpose, the culture medium parameters such as low and high cost carbon and nitrogen sources, substrates and incubation times were evaluated. RESULTS: Maximum lipase activity was achieved after 24 hr of incubation with 1.5% of glucose syrup (1600±69.1 u/mg), 1% of fish powder (1238±36.7 u/mg) and olive oil (1407±2.1 u/mg) as low cost carbon and nitrogen sources and substrate, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results show a significant increase in lipase activity with usage of low cost sources; this could help in reducing the media prices for industrial application of lipase enzyme.