Effect of nitrogen sources and surfactants on cellulase production by fungal strains under submerged cultivation

Abstract

Cellulase, as a complex enzyme containing endoglucanase, exoglucanase and beta‐glucosidase, acts to hydrolyze cellulose in order to be converted into glucose units. These subunits of cellulase synergistically hydrolyze the cellulosic substrate of industrial importance. The biosynthesis of celluase by microorganisms has been recently paid much attention Nitrogen is one of the important elements required for growth of microorganisms. Provision of utilizable form of nitrogen source to organisms is the basic requirement to be fulfilled for optimal growth. The use of surfactants in the production of hydrolytic enzymes is well known. Many reports have shown the stimulatory effects of surfactants on enzyme production by microorganisms in submerged or solid state fermentation. The effects of several surfactants on the activity of cellulase enzyme were also studied in this study. Among the nitrogen sources, proteose peptone and yeast extract were found quite effective nitrogen sources whereas tween -80 and oil of olive performed well as surfactants by fungal growth and production system.