Process Optimization for Hyperproduction of Alkaline Protease

Proteases belong to an important group of enzymes, both physiologically and economically. In the cell proteases play a significant role in the removal of abnormal protein and in many proteolytic reactions such as control of digestion, immune response and viral assembly where by proteins significantly modified. The economic importance came to light for the first time when microbial proteases were introduced in 1960s to the detergent industry. This led to an exhaustive study to find out various proteases and also effective means to produce them microbialy. Microbial proteases were classified in to three categories depending on the pH at which they show greatest activity, viz. acidic, neutral and alkaline. Microbial proteases can be obtained from various Bacteria, Fungus, Blue Green Algae, Antarctic krill and even weeds. Industrially only Bacillus species were exploited for the production of thermostable alkaline proteases. In the present study an attempt was made to optimize the physic-chemical factors for production of alkaline proteases from a suitable Bacillus species.

Dr. Rakesh Singh has done M.Tech. in Biochemical Engineering from Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi and Ph. D. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Presently he is working as Senior Scientist at National Research Centre on DNA Fingerprinting, NBPGR, New Delhi.