P100b: Production of Prolyl Oligopeptidase inhibitor by immobilized Fusarium sp. CMI397470

Studies with animal models have shown that inhibition of Prolyl Oligopeptidase, an enzyme found at abnormal levels in brain cells of suffers of Alzheimer’s Disease, can improve cognitive function.  Fusarium sp. CMI397470, isolated in Sarawak, Malaysia, exhibits Prolyl Oligopeptidase inhibitory activity in its culture broth. This paper reports on shake flask culture studies on the effect of medium manipulations on the yield of Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitor (POPI) by Fusarium sp. CMI397470 immobilized in hydrogel. Complex media such as Potato Dextrose Broth, Czapek Dox Broth, Litchfield and Arthur Medium were inferior to a simple mineral salts medium with glucose as carbon source. In the range 5 to 60 g L^-1 of glucose supplied in the medium, the optimal quantity was found to be 40. POPI production was found to peak after mycelial accumulation had maximized, suggesting a secondary metabolite pattern of production. The immobilized mycelia could be re-used for as long as 6 repeat batch cultures over a total period of 46 days.