PRODUCTION AND SOME PROPERTIES OF LIPASE FROM PENICILLIUM-CITRINUM

Olive oil or Tween 80 stimulated the production of extracellular lipase by Penicillium citrinum. Olive oil at a concentration of 0.1% resulted in a sixfold increase in extracellular enzyme activity as compared with the basic medium. Lauric acid added to the basic medium inhibited the production of lipase. Almost no activity was found in an extract of mycelium. Among the fats that were tested, tributyrin was the best substrate for the P. citrinum lipase. The optimal activity was at pH 7.2 and 30-degrees-C. Enzyme activity was stable between pH 5.0 and 7.0 and in the temperature range from 10 to 40-degrees-C. NaCl and KCl at concentrations up to 1 M had no effect on lipase activity. Iron, magnesium, and calcium were found to have an inhibitory effect on enzyme activity. SDS and copper completely inhibited the enzyme activity.