Optimization of medium for lipase production by Acinetobacter haemolyticus from healthy human skin

A lipase producing Acinetobacter haemolyticus TA 106 was isolated from healthy human skin of tribal population. The maximum activity of 55 U/ml was observed after medium optimization using the "one variable at a time" and the statistical approaches. The optimal composition of the medium was determined as (% w/v or v/v): tryptone - 1, yeast extract - 0.5, sodium chloride-1, olive oil-1, Tween - 80 1, manganese sulphate - 5 mM, sucrose- 1, pH-7. It was found that maximum production occurred in late log phase i.e. after 72 h and at 200 rpm. From factorial design and statistical analysis, it was found that pH, temperature, salt, inoculum density and aeration significantly affected the lipase production. It was also noted that inoculum density of 3 % (v/v), sucrose (1% w/v) and manganese sulphate (5 mM) displayed maximum lipase activity of 55 U/ml by conventional as well as statistical method. Optimization studies also indicated the increase in specific activity from 0.2 U/mg to 6.7 U/mg.