Optimization of Cultural and Nutritional Parameters for the Production of Laccase by Pleurotus ostreatus ARC280

Aims: To optimize laccase production by submerged fermentation using an edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus ARC280.
Study Design: Laccase activity was assayed by monitoring the product formation rate of enzymatic oxidation of syringaldazine spectrophotometrically at 525 nm.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbial Chemistry, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt, between May 2009 and October 2010.
Methodology: Pleurotus ostreatus ARC280 was maintained on potato dextrose agar medium. The liquid medium used for the laccase production by the fungal culture during its growth in submerged fermentation was selected from eight liquid media for inducing laccase production. Parameters such as incubation period, temperature, pH of the production medium, carbon and nitrogen sources and other nutritional parameters were studied using syringaldazine as a model substrate for laccase activity determination.
Results: In the present work, Eight media with different components were screened. The enzyme formed by Pl. ostreatus ARC280 was localized mainly in the extra-cellular fraction. Laccase formation reaches its maximum value with specific activity of about 140 U/mg protein at the twenty-sixth day of incubation, pH 5.0 and 28ºC. Among the various wastes used, corn stover induces the highest laccase production with specific activity of 75.48 U/mg protein. Soluble starch at 1.5% (w/v) and ammonium sulfate was found to be the best carbon and nitrogen sources for laccase formation, respectively. The optimal concentrations of Tween-80 and CuSO4. 5H2O, were found to be 0.1% (v/v) and 100μM and cause enzyme induction by about 44% and 19% than control, respectively.
Conclusion: Laccase production by Pl. ostreatus ARC280 has been shown to depend markedly on the composition of the culture medium, carbon, nitrogen content and inducer compounds and governed by parameters such as pH of the production medium and other nutrition parameters.