Abstract

Rhodotorula glutinis is a yeast that secretes the enzyme α-L-arabinofuranosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.55) into the culture medium and thus has an interesting biotechnological potential. To determine improved culture conditions of this organism, different factors of the culture media were evaluated such as the use of peptone as nitrogen source, salts composition, pH and growth temperature. Likewise, beet molasses and beet cosette were tested as industrial carbon sources to induce the production of the enzyme and how they influence the yeast growth. Based on these studies a culture medium is proposed for growth of this yeast in a continuous system. By assaying different dilution rates an average specific activity for the enzyme of 82.4 U/mg of protein was obtained. © 2006 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.