Induction of PLLA Degrading Enzymes with Natural Substrates

3 Induction of PLLA Degrading Enzymes with Natural Substrates 

Our research group has reported in a series of papers that production of enzymes from PLLA degrading microorganisms was induced when some proteins such as silk fibroin, elastin, gelatin, peptides, and some amino acids were present in the cultivation medium [27, 44—46, 48]. For instance, a significant increase in the enzyme activity of Amycolatopsis strain HT-41 was detected when silk fibroin was added into the culture medium [44]. Moreover, various amino acids, peptides, and poly(L-amino acids) were used as enzyme inducers for the production of enzymes from T. albtm, L. waywandensis, and A. orientalis. Silk fibroin was found to be the best inducer for A. orientalis. On the other hand, the enzyme activities of L. waywandensis and T. album were stimulated by elastin but not by silk fibroin. Soluble culture substrates such as peptides and amino acids had lower induction activities in comparison to protein substrates (silk fibroin, elastin, collagen, and keratin) [48]. 

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