OPTIMIZATION OF CULTURE CONDITIONS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF RIFAMYCIN OXIDASE BY CURVULARIA-LUNATA

Maximum activity (8.9 IU/ml) of rifamycin oxidase in Curvularia lunata , grown in shake-flask culture at 28-degrees-C and pH 6.5, was after 9 6 h. Nearly all the glucose was used in 72 h. An initial culture pH of 6.5 and 28-degrees-C were optimum for the growth and enzyme productio n. Among various carbon and organic nitrogen sources, carboxymethylcel lulose and peptone were the most effective for enzyme yield. The rate of enzyme production was enhanced when yeast extract was also added to the medium. The optimum medium for the production of rifamycin oxidas e contained 10 g each of yeast extract, peptone and carboxymethylcellu lose/l and 0.04 % (NH4)2SO4.