• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2010

In the present study, we isolated a new bacterial strain producing invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) and determined optimized culture condition in flask culture. The strain was identified as Bacilus flexus determined by the 16S rDNA sequencing method. The invertase was produced only in the sucrose medium as the sole carbon source. Potassium nitrate was an adequate nitrogen source for enzyme production, whereas meat peptone showed the highest bacterial growth. Enzyme production was increased about 2-fold when $MgSO_4\cdot7H_2O$ was supplemented to the growth media. The optimum temperature was found to be $30^{\circ}C$ for both enzyme production and bacterial growth. Invertase exhibited pH optima in the range 5.0-6.0 and have a temperature optimum at $40^{\circ}C$, similarly to other invertases found from different microbial sources. Several mineral ions (K and Fe) stimulated the invertase activity, whereas some bioelements (Ag, Mg, and Mn) inhibited enzyme activity. Under the optimized culture condition, the maximum enzyme production (over 250 units/mL) was achieved at 20 h. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to report on invertase production by Bacilus flexus.