Singh & Satyanarayana : Applications of Phytase of Sporotrichum Thermophile

This study presents a review on applications of phytase from thermophilic fungal isolate, Sporotrichum thermophile. Under optimization, improvement in phytase production can be achieved in both solid state (2-fold) and submerged (2.6-fold) fermentations. Phytase could also be produced by alginate-immobilized S. thermophile, and enzyme production was sustainable over 5 repeated cycles. Purified phytase is a homopentameric glycoprotein (mol mass, 456 kD) and is optimally active at pH 5.0 and 60°C with a T 1/2 of 16 h at 60°C and 90 min at 80°C. It is insensitive to trypsin and pepsin, and unaffected by EDTA. Phytase has all requisite properties for application as a feed and food additive, dephytinization of soymilk and wheat flour and soil conditioner for plant growth promotion.