African Journal of
Biochemistry Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biochem. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0778
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJBR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 426

Full Length Research Paper

Kinetics studies of protease in fermenting locust beans (Parkia biglobosa) and melon seed (Citrullus vulgaris)

C. Egwim Evans1*, J. Yisa2 and P. O. Egwim3
  1Biochemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. 2Chemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. 3Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, P. M. B. 55, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 26 March 2009
  •  Published: 30 April 2009

Abstract

 

Melon seed (Citrullus vulgaris) and locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) were separately subjected to a natural solid – substrate fermentation for 5 days. The peak of protease (P.I) production from the fermenting melon seeds was 48 h while that of the protease (P.II) from fermenting locust bean was 96 h. Both P.I and P.II demonstrated maximum activity at 40°C. The peak of activity for P.I was observed between pH 6.6 to 7.6, whereas for P.II, the optimum pH was 5.8. The Michaelis – Menten’s constant (KM) as well as the maximum velocity (VMax) of activity were 4.8 x 10-2 M and 3.43 x 10-2/s, and 5.8 x 10-2 M and 5.1x10-2/s for both P.I and P.II respectively. The work concludes that fermenting melon and locust bean seeds may be a cheap and alternative source of proteases for industrial processes.

 

Key words: Kinetics, protease, natural fermentation, locust bean, melon seed, alternative sources.