Lipase production by Staphylococcus epidermidis CMST-Pi 1 isolated from the gut of shrimp Penaeus indicus

A bacterium producing extracellular lipase was isolated from the gut of the estuarine shrimp Penaeus indicus and identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis. Lipase production was investigated in shake-flask culture. Cod liver oil was found to be a suitable triglyceride to increase lipase production, at an optimum concentration of 1.5%. Investigating the effect of carbon source on lipase production revealed that fructose yielded higher lipase production than the other tested carbon sources; the optimal concentration of fructose was 2.5%. Screening of a suitable nitrogen source for lipase production revealed that meat extract yielded higher lipase production; the optimal concentration of meat extract for higher lipase production was 2.0%. The most suitable trace element for maximum lipase production was zinc sulphate, followed by magnesium sulphate. Partial characterization of the crude lipase revealed that pH 7 and a temperature of 50 degrees C gave optimal lipase activity. Testing the effect of various organic solvents on lipase activity revealed that hexadecane (77%), tetradecane (74%) and dodecane (48%) increased lipase activity over the control.