Department of Microbiology, Kakatiya University, Warangal-506009, Telangana, India.
Scytalidium thermophilum SKESMBKU02, a thermophilic fungus isolated from cattle dung, produced a significant amount of thermostable β-glucosidase in cultures on Mandel and Weber medium (45°C, 3 days). Scytalidium thermophilum SKESMBKU02 opted pH – 5, temperature of 45°C for production of β-glucosidases. The glucose and yeast extract are the best carbon and nitrogen sources for β-glucosidase production.It has found that shake flak culture method exerted more β-glucosidase production than the still culture method. The fungus showed maximum dry weight in cellulose as carbon sources, yeast extract and malt extract as nitrogen source, pH of 9.0-10.0 and temperature of 45oC.The crude enzyme was characterized and found that substrate concentration of 6 mM and enzyme concentration of 300 µl are found suitable for the maximum β-glucosidase activity. Stability studies reveals that the enzyme was active at wide range of pH and temperature.
Keywords: Scytalidium thermophilum SKESMBKU02,optimization, β-glucosidase, characterization.