Production and partial characterization of alkaline feruloyl esterases by Fusarium oxysporum during submerged batch cultivation

Production of feruloyl esterases (FAEs) by Fusarium oxysporum was enhanced by optimization of initial pH of the culture medium, the type and concentration of nitrogen and carbon source. Submerged batch cultivation in a laboratory bioreactor (17 l) produced activity at 82 nkat g−1 dry substrate (corn cobs) which compared favorably to those reported for the other microorganisms. Use of de-esterified corn cobs as carbon source decreased FAE production by 5.5-fold compared to untreated corn cobs even though ferulic acid (FA) was added to the concentration found in alkali-extracts of corn cobs. Production of FAE does not therefore, require FA, however, production is diminished by the removal of esterified FA from the growth substrate. Optimal FAE activity was observed at pH 7 and 50 °C with 68 and 55% activity at pH 8 and pH 9, respectively. The esterase was fully stable at pH 5–8 and up to 40 °C and retained 72 and 40% of its activity after 6 h at pH 9 and pH 10, respectively. After separation by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, a zymogram indicated one major FAE activity exhibiting pI value of 10.5.