Production of cutinolytic esterase by Fusarium culmorum grown at different apple cutin concentrations in submerged fermentation

Cutinolytic esterase (i.e., cutinase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of ester bonds in cutin and also in diverse soluble and insoluble esters. It has application in several biotechnological areas, acting as biocatalysts in the food industry, in detergents, in biodegradation of polymers and other toxic substances, being important in biorremediation. In this research, specific growth rate, protein content, cutinolytic activity by biochemical tests and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and growth and enzymatic kinetic parameters were determined for F. culmorum grown at different apple cutin concentrations (0.2, 2 and 20 g/L) in submerged fermentation. It was observed that biomass, protein content and enzymatic activity enhanced as cutin concentration increased in the media. A cutinase activity band of around 65 KDa was observed in zymograms of different cutin concentration. An additional cutinase activity band of around 90 KDa was also observed in zymograms of F. culmorum grown in 20 g of apple cutin/L. These studies showed that F. culmorum used apple cutin as the sole carbon source, which acted as a cutinase inducer. The highest-yielding parameters of cutinase were observed in 2 g of apple cutin/L. This research showed promising results in the cutinase induction for F. culmorum using a low concentration of apple cutin.