Production and Optimization of Lipase Enzyme from Mesophiles and Thermophiles

Abstract

Lipases are enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol to free fatty acids and glycerol. In the present study bacterial cultures were isolated from industrial and oil spilled areas and was screened for Lipase production and activity. Seven bacterial strains were found to have lipolytic ability. These bacterial strains were grown in production media and the lipase enzyme produced was estimated. After optimization of factors like pH, temperature, carbon source, nitrogen and incubation time etc. a maximum lipase enzyme activity of 8U was obtained in the mesophilic bacteria: P. mirabilis when sunflower oil was used as a substrate, pH was 6 and temperature was 37°C. B. coagulans, another mesophile produced 7.5U of lipase enzyme. Thermophiles: P. stutzeri, G. stearothermophilus and B. sporothermodurans which were isolated, screened for lipase activity and characterized, showed highest lipase activity of 7U at 50°C.