Production of aminopeptidase from soybean meal with nutrients supplementation by Bacillus licheniformis SWJS33: Feasibility and metabolic process

Abstract

Enhancing aminopeptidase fermentation using cheap substrate is very necessary for industrial production and application of aminopeptidase. The suitability of using raw soybean meal (SBM) as substrate for aminopeptidase production by Bacillus licheniformis SWJS33 in submerged fermentation was first evaluated. SBM alone provided both nitrogen and carbon sources for SWJS33 to produce aminopeptidase. Supplementation of 3 g/L glucose and 15 g/L yeast extract further improved the aminopeptidase yield by 0.63 and 1.3 folds, respectively. Addition of yeast extract altered the metabolic process of SWJS33, including shortening the lag phase, increasing the maximum specific cell growth rate and maximum specific aminopeptidase formation rate, and changing the utilization process of nutrients during the fermentation. What's more, SWJS33 secreted aminopeptidase prior to endoproteases when quick-release nitrogen (e.g. yeast extract) was supplied. High dissolved oxygen was demanded during aminopeptidase fermentation. The aminopeptidase production was successfully up scaled to 20 L fermenter.