Cellulase production by Penicillium sp strain IS-07 using agro-industrial by-products

Cellulases are enzymes with a high potential of biotechnology and is currently being applied as biocatalysts in a series of industrial processes and can be produced by different fermentation processes. Brazilian tropical environments show a rich biodiversity, making it promising to search for new microorganisms with biotechnological applications, especially lignocellulolytic fungi and bacteria, which are extremely important. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the production of cellulase (CMCase and FPase) by the strain Penicillium sp. IS-07 in submerged fermentation using sugarcane straw as a carbon source and corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source, using the methodology of factorial design 2(5-1), varying temperature, agitation, inoculums concentration, carbon and nitrogen source concentration. The measurement of enzyme activity was determined by quantification of reducing sugars by DNS method. The best enzymes production of CMCase (2,274.0 U / L) and FPase (128.0 U / L) was detected after 5 days of culture, in assays 16 and 8, respectively, and the data statistically significant at 10%. This study demonstrates that the strain Penicillium sp. IS-07 features high production of cellulase and potential for optimization of enzyme production, in order to develop products with biotechnological potential.