Optimal Culture Conditions for Production of Polygalacturonase from Bacillus sp. DFN-75 Isolated from Kimchi

A bacterium capable of producing polygalacturonase was isolated from kimchi, and identified as a strain of Bacillus. The effects of culture conditions and medium composition on enzyme production were investigated. Among the tested carbon sources, polygalacturonic acid or pectin was most effective for the production of the enzyme. Therefore, it seemed that the enzyme was induced when pectin or polygalacturonic acid was used as a sole source of carbon. The optimal concentration of polygalacturonic acid was 0.5%. For nitrogen sources, yeast extract was best for the production of the enzyme, at a level of 0.25%. The enzyme was maximally produced by cultivating the isolated Bacillus sp. at an initial pH of 88.0 and temperature of 45$^{\circ}C$ for 20 hours.