Short Communication - Effect of UV Irradiation of Aspergillus niger on the Production of Xylanase in the Presence of Wheat Bran as Carbon Source

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to find out the effect of UV irradiation of Aspergillus niger at different concentrations of wheat bran as carbon source (2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 %) on the production of xylanase. Submerged fermentation was carried out in 500 ml Erlenmeyer flasks using vogel's medium at 35°C for five days. UV irradiated A. niger has significantly increased the xylanase production as compared to parent strains. Twenty minutes exposure of A. niger was considered suitable for the production of xylanase. Wheat bran concentration (3.5%) was considered best substrate for xylanase production than corn cobs and sugarcane baggasse. Maximum xylanase production was observed at 30°C with pH 5.6. Molecular mass of the purified xylanase was found to be 27.2 KDa by SDS-PAGE. Total protein present in crude enzyme was calculated as 188 mg/ml. Crude xylanase showed specific activity of 41.22 IU/mg protein. Partially purified xylanase showed protein content of 80.6 mg/ml. The novelty of this study is basic sources used are indigenous and cheap for production of xylanase.