Production of Extracellular Protease by Locally Isolated Bacillus Subtilis IC-5 Using Agriculture by-Products

Utilization of agriculture by-products for production of extracellular proteases by Bacillus subtilis IC-5 was investigated. Screening of proteolytic bacteria isolated from goat skin storage soil was carried out on skim milk agar. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics five of them were identified as Bacillus polymyxa IC-1, Bacillus cereus IC-2, Bacillus magaterium IC-4, Bacillus subtilis IC-5 and Bacillus coagulans IC-9. Bacillus subtilis IC-5 being high proteolytic activity was selected for further studies. Proteolytic enzyme production by B. subtilis IC-5 was investigated in presence of six agriculture by-products as replacement of peptone in basal medium. Soybean meal as replacement of peptone in the basal medium supported the production of proteolytic enzymes. The addition of agriculture by-products to the basal medium enhanced the production of both alkaline and neutral proteases. The maximum protease production (alkaline protease1850 and neutral protease 1120 Uml-1) was achieved by supplementation of soybean meal as substrate. The increase in additive concentration of agriculture by product had also beneficial effect on the production of proteases except barley meal and wheat bran on neutral protease