Impact of inoculation strategy on the progress of Candida rugosa cultivation

Batch cultivation of Candida rugosa for the production of lipase and esterase enzymes was carried out by employing two different inoculation strategies. The effects of triolein (2, 3 and 5 g/l) and oleic acid (3 g/l) as carbon sources of the enzyme production medium on the activity, productivity, and yield of enzymes were also compared for both strategies. Inoculation of the cells into the enzyme production medium either directly or after cultivation in a pre-culture medium rich in glucose affected the activity and yield of esterase more than those of lipase for both carbon sources. In both strategies, triolein and oleic acid yielded the same lipase activity (16.67 U/ml) whereas triolein provided higher esterase activity (0.0035 U/ml). Time courses of the extracellular and intracellular lipase and esterase enzymes indicated that lipase activity was growth-associated and the cells secreted esterase into the medium after a considerable level of extracellular lipase activity was reached. The role of protease in the enzyme activities was also discussed.