Fungal Chondroitinase: Production and Prospects for Therapeutic Application

Chondroitinase is useful in treating glial scars and controlling tumour progression. Chondroitinase being a glycosylated protein, fungi could be an ideal host for production of chondroitinase. However, the work reported on bioprospecting of fungi capable of utilizing chondroitin sulphate and improvement of the cultural conditions is sparse. In this study, soil samples collected around various places of Udupi, India, were screened for isolating fungi capable of utilizing chondroitin sulphate and improving the enzyme yield. Seventy-six isolates obtained through soil enrichment were checked for chondroitinase activity by rapid plate technique. Among the 15 positive isolates, MSSS-1 was selected for further studies based on the isolate stability, consistency, yield and growth pattern. The enzyme yield was improved systematically through optimization of the cultural conditions, viz. one-factor-at-a-time method, factorial design and Box-Behnken design. The crude enzyme obtained by salt precipitation at 80% saturation controlled proliferation of HepG2, MCT-116 and MCF-7 cells. Maximum activity was observed against MCF-7 cells lines with an IC50 of 0.68 U/ml.