SAUERKRAUT BRINE - A POTENTIAL SUBSTRATE FOR PRODUCTION OF YEAST BETA-GLUCOSIDASE

Sauerkraut brine could serve as a substrate for production of extracel lular beta-glucosidase by Candida yeasts. Of the four species examined Candida wickerhamii and Candida molischiana produced significantly mo re beta-glucosidase activity at 95% confidence level than Candida lipo lytica and Candida utilis pH had a profound effect on yeast beta-gluco sidase production. Candida wickerhamii yielded the highest level of be ta-glucosidase activity (768 +/- 4.03 units/L) after 48 h of growth at pH 3.8, and the enzyme had a specific activity of 24 units/mg protein . (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited