Abstract:
AIMS : To optimise peroxidase production by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1, up to 3 l culture
volumes.
METHODS AND RESULTS : Peroxidase production by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1 was
optimised in terms of production temperature and pH and the use of lignin-based model
chemical inducers. The highest peroxidase activity (1.30±0.04 U ml-1) in 10 ml culture
volume was achieved in a complex production medium (pH 8) at 37°C in the presence of 0.1
mmol l-1 veratryl alcohol, which was greater than those reported previously. Scale-up to 100 ml and 400 ml culture volumes resulted in decreased peroxidase production (0.53±0.10 U ml-
1 and 0.26±0.08 U ml-1 respectively). However, increased aeration improved peroxidase
production with the highest production achieved using an airlift bioreactor (4.76±0.46 U ml-1
in 3 l culture volume).
CONCLUSIONS : Veratryl alcohol (0.1 mmol l-1) is an effective inducer of peroxidase production
by Streptomyces sp. strain BSII#1. However, improved aeration increased peroxidase
production in larger volumes without the use of an inducer, surpassing induced yields in an
optimised small-scale process.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY : Only a limited number of reports in literature have
focused on the up-scaling of bacterial peroxidase production. There remains opportunity for
feasible large-scale production of bacterial peroxidases with potentially novel biocatalytic
properties.
