Screening of Actinomycetes from Mangrove Ecosystem for L-asparaginase Activity and Optimization by Response Surface Methodology RAJAMANICKAM USHA*, KRISHNASWAMI KANJANA MALA, CHIDAMBARAM KULANDAISAMY VENIL and MUTHUSAMY PALANISWAMY

Marine actinomycetes were isolated from sediment samples collected from Pitchavaram mangrove ecosystem situated along the southeast coast of India. Maximum actinomycete population was noted in rhizosphere region. About 38% of the isolates produced L-asparaginase. One potential strain KUA106 produced higher level of enzyme using tryptone glucose yeast extract medium. Based on the studied phenotypic characteristics, strain KUA106 was identified as Streptomyces parvulus KUA106. #e optimization method that combines the Plackett-Burman design, a factorial design and the response surface method, which were used to optimize the medium for the production of L-asparaginase by Streptomycetes parvulus. Four medium factors were screened from eleven medium factors by Plackett-Burman design experiments and subsequent optimization process to find out the optimum values of the selected parameters using central composite design was performed. Asparagine, tryptone, d))extrose and NaCl components were found to be the best medium for the L-asparaginase production. #e combined optimization method described here is the e$ective method for screening medium factors as well as determining their optimum level for the production of L-asparaginase by Streptomycetes parvulus KUAP106. K e y w o r d s: Streptomyces parvulus KUAP106, L-asparaginase, mangrove ecosystem, optimization by RSM * Corresponding author: R. Usha, 113IID, Tatabad, Sivanandha colony, Coimbatore12; phone: 9865068286; fax: 0422-2611043; e-mail: ushaanbu2007@redi"mail.com Usha R. et al. 3 214