ABSTRACT:
Protease is an enzyme that belongs to the enzyme group, hydrolases whose catalytic function is to hydrolyse peptide bonds of proteins. Proteolytic enzymes find a wide application in various fields which includes medical therapy, especially cancer therapy, industrial processes, textile industries, genetic engineering, etc. Ganoderma is a Basidiomycete. It is one of the most common and significant wood decaying or rotting fungi. Besides being wood rotting fungi it is a medicinal mushroom. The scope of this study is to screen and to optimize various parameters for the production of protease from Ganoderma sp. Four different fungal strains were screened for the production of protease enzyme. Ganoderma sp was found to be the best strain among the four tested fungal strains for the production of protease. The growth medium for Ganoderma sp was screened. The production of protease enzyme by Ganoderma sp was experimented in the Czapekdox agar. Few parameters (pH, different substrate concentration) were optimized for the production of protease by Ganoderma sp. in Czapekdox agar medium. Various parameters (pH, different substrate concentrations, different substrates, different carbon sources, different nitrogen sources, different minerals) were optimized for the production of protease enzyme by Ganoderma sp. in Czapekdox broth. The protease enzyme was produced in large amount within three days in Czapekdox broth which had all the optimized parameters and was concentrated.