Process optimization for production of a fibrinolytic enzyme from newly isolated marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa KU1

Abstract A potent fibrinolytic enzyme producing bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KU1 was isolated from marine sediments of Ezhara beach, Kannur, Kerala. Enzyme production was optimized using statistical approach. Placket-Burman factorial design was used in picking key factors (Tryptone, skimmed milk and inoculum size) that influence fibrinolytic enzyme production of the isolate and further optimized using Box-Benhken design. Optimal concentrations for the selected independent variables in the medium were identified to be 0.72% w/v tryptone, 0.09% w/v skimmed milk and 3.95% v/v inoculum size. Peak production was achieved empirically in shake flask culture and it was very close to the projected activity by the response surface model. The Peak production showed 3.25 fold increase over the activity prior to any optimization and a maximum of 1.32 fold increase of one factor at a time optimization. Though many reports are available on fibrinolytic enzyme production from Pseudomonas sp. media optimization studies for enhancement of fibrinolytic enzyme production has not been performed so far. This may be the first report on statistical optimization of production of a fibrinolytic enzyme from marine Pseudomonas sp.