Statistical experimental design applied to extracellular lipase production by the marine Antarctic yeast Leucosporidium scottii CRM 728

Abstract

The search for microbial enzymes from extreme environments may result in the discovery of biomolecules with different properties. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate and optimize the conditions for lipase production by the marine-derived Antarctic yeast Leucosporidium scottii CRM 728 using an experimental design with different sources of carbon and nitrogen. The applied strategy was composed of three steps, including Plackett-Burman, Central Composite Design (CCD), and validation assay. Among nine variables applied, corn steep liquor, olive oil, and soybean oil showed a positive effect in the lipase production, while urea showed a negative effect. The production of lipase increased 9-fold in comparison to the basal activity when olive oil and corn steep liquor were used as nutrient sources. On the other hand, there was an increase of 4.8-fold when soybean oil and corn steep liquor were used as nutrient sources. The highest amounts of lipase were achieved in non-saline conditions and at 20.0 °C. In this study, the lipase production by the marine-derived psychrotolerant yeast L. scottii was for the first time reported, providing new knowledgement in the field of enzymatic production by extremophilic and marine microbial resource.