l-Methioninase Production by Filamentous Fungi: I-Screening and Optimization Under Submerged Conditions

Findings show 21 fungal isolates belonging to eight genera recovered from Egyptian soils that have the potential to attack l-methionine under submerged conditions. Aspergillus flavipes had the most methioninolytic activity, giving the highest yield of l-methioninase (10.78 U/mg protein), rate of methionine uptake (93.0\%), and growth rate (5.0 g/l), followed by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and A. carneus. The maximum l-methioninase productivity (11.60 U/mg protein) by A. flavipes was observed using l-methionine (0.8\%) as an enzyme-inductive agent and glucose (1\%) as a co-dissimilated carbon source. A significant reduction in l-methioninase biosynthesis by A. flavipes was detected using carbon-free medium, suggesting the lack of ability to use l-methionine as a carbon and nitrogen source. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (0.25\%), the best source of phosphorus, favors enzyme biosynthesis and enhances the level of methionine uptake by A. flavipes. The maximum l-methioninase productivity (12.58 U/mg protein) and substrate uptake (95.6\%) were measured at an initial pH of 7.0.