Question

In order to produce microbial lipase at industrial scale, you should select a suitable microorganism and lipid carbon source that can be applied to this production with your justification. Also, describe the operating conditions for the cultivation of the selected microorganism in the bioreactor to produce microbial lipase

Answer 1

Lipases are produced by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. However we will focuss on bacterial microbial lipases as they have ecconomic importance. Some important lipase producing bacterial genera include Pseudomonas,Bacillus and Burkholderia. There must be 3 factors to detect a lipase-positive bacterium by culturing it. These factors include growth of the organism, production of lipase by that organism under suitable conditions and the presence of a sensitive method to detect lipase activity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa a lipase producing microbial species , can be used since its gram negative and good for large scale production of lipid. Bacterial lipases are mostly extracellular and greatly influenced by nutritional and physio-chemical factors, such as temperature,pH, nitrogen and carbon sorces.The carbon source has been reported as the major factor that affects lipase expression,since lipasesare by and large inducible enzymes and are generallyproduced in athe presence of a lipid souce such as an oil or other inducer, such as triacylglycerols, fatty acids,glycerol, palm oil etc. Palm oil can be used since its quite a good source of carbon

Characterization of Lipase for Optimum Activity:

Effect of pH on lipase activity; Optimum pH for enzyme activity by keepin g the pH range from 6 to 9.

Optimization of tempperature for lipase production; 37 degree celcius