Simultaneous production of glucose oxidase and catalase by Alternaria alternata

Summary A number of factors affecting simultaneous production of cell-bound glucose oxidase and catalase by the fungus Alternaria alternata have been investigated. Consecutive optimization of the type and concentration of nitrogen and carbon source, the initial pH and growth temperature resulted in a simultaneous increase in glucose oxidase and catalase by 780% and 68% respectively. Two second-order equations, describing the combined effect of pH and temperature on the activity of each enzyme, revealed that glucose oxidase had its optima at pH 7.9 and 32.3°C and catalase at pH 8.5 and 18.1°C. Under certain growth conditions, yields as high as 23.5 and 18,100 units/g carbon source for glucose oxidase and catalase, respectively, were simultaneously obtained.Offprint requests to: B. J. Macris