Kinetic properties of Lipase obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from crude oil contaminated soil

Soil contaminated with crude oil has negatively affected some of the communities in Ekiti State region in Nigeria. There is an increased interest in microbial lipases because of their enormous potential in industrial and biotechnological applications. This study investigated the characteristics of partially-purified lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from oil-contaminated soil in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The lipase was purified by gel-filtration, having a molecular weight of 39.11 kDa, with K-m and V-max values of 12.50 and 28.86, respectively. The enzyme had an optimal pH of 8.0 and exhibited its maximal activity at 50 degrees C, whereas the relatively stable temperature and pH were 40 degrees C and 5.0, respectively. The enzyme activity was enhanced by olive oil, which served as the carbon source. Sodium chloride enhanced lipase activity, while calcium chloride acted as mild inhibitor, and iron chloride acted a strong inhibitor. The lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa possessed properties of an industrial enzyme and will be useful for biodegradation and bioremediation studies.