Optimizing the culture conditions for L-Asparaginase production from endophytic fungus Curvularia sp. LCJ413 through conventional and statistical approach

Abstract

L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase) is a crucial anti-tumour drug used to cure acute lymphocytic leukaemia. The current study aimed to enhance the production medium for the endophytic fungus Curvularia sp. LCJ413 that showed significant L-ASNase activity. L-ASNase production from Curvularia sp. LCJ413 was examined in six different media to select an appropriate liquid medium. Among the various media tested, Modified Czapek Dox broth (MCDB) exhibited the maximum L-ASNase activity (8.81 ± 0.52 U/mL). Physical (pH and temperature) and nutritional (carbon, nitrogen, inducer, and their concentrations) parameters were also optimized to boost L-ASNase production. Results of the study suggested a temperature of 28°C at pH 7 with 2 g/L maltose, 10 g/L L-Asparagine, and 25 g/L ammonium sulphate as the optimal carbon, inducer, and nitrogen source resulted in a high L-ASNase activity of 18.9 ± 0.40 U/mL. The statistical enhancement of L-ASNase by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) produced 20.11 U/mL of L-ASNase, which was 2.2 fold higher than the non-optimized medium. This is the first study on L-ASNase production from the endophytic Curvularia sp. LCJ413 isolated from Vitex negundo medicinal plant. Continuous fermentation with the medium composition provided in the study can produce L-ASNase on a large scale.