Sains Malaysiana 54(12)(2025): 2837-2846

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5412-03

Enhanced Production of Lipase from ‘NC Mutant’ Moulds for Transesterification Reactions(Peningkatan Penghasilan Lipase daripada Kulat Mutant NC untuk Tindak Balas Transesterifikasi)

 

NISA RACHMANIA MUBARIK³, TRISMILAH SISWODARSONO^2,* & GALIH CENDANA NABILASANI¹

 

¹Study Program of Biotechnology, Graduate School of IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia

²Center for Bioindustrial Technology-BRIN (National Innovation Research Agency), Bld.610-614 PUSPIPTEK, South Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia

³Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia

Received: 25 February 2024/Accepted: 17 November 2025

Abstract

Lipase can be used for biodiesel production, specifically in transesterification reactions. Nut C (NC) is a fungal isolate derived from palm kernels and palm kernel waste, capable of producing lipase. The objective of this study was to obtain a mutant mould with higher transesterification activity compared to its wild type counterpart (NC). The mutation process on NC mould was carried out using ultraviolet (UV) radiation followed by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). UV-induced mutation on NC produced four isolates, with m4.3NC1 exhibiting higher transesterification activity than the wild type, with an increment of 138.8% (from 0.121 U/mg to 0.168 U/mg). Subsequent EMS mutations of the mutant m4.3NC1 isolate, designated as m5.4NC, increased the transesterification activity from 0.168 U/mg to 2.048 U/mg (1119% increment as compared to the wild type). Molecular identification of the NC isolate showed 100% similarity with the Aspergillus fumigatus CMXY15837 strain. The highest specific enzyme activity of the NC mutant was observed at pH 6 and a temperature of 50 °C. This study showed that the mutation of NC mould using UV, followed by EMS, significantly enhanced its transesterification activity.

Keywords: Ethyl methane sulfonate; lipase; NC mutant mould; transesterification reaction; ultraviolet

 

Abstrak

Lipase boleh digunakan untuk pengeluaran biodiesel, khususnya dalam tindak balas transesterifikasi. Nut C (NC) ialah pencilan kulat yang diperoleh daripada isirung sawit dan sisa isirung sawit yang mampu menghasilkan lipase. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mendapatkan kulat mutan yang mempunyai aktiviti transesterifikasi yang lebih tinggi berbanding jenis liarnya (NC). Proses mutasi pada kulat NC dijalankan menggunakan sinaran ultraungu (UV) diikuti oleh etil metana sulfonat (EMS). Mutasi akibat UV pada NC menghasilkan empat pencilan dengan m4.3NC1 menunjukkan aktiviti transesterifikasi yang lebih tinggi daripada jenis liar, dengan kenaikan sebanyak 138.8% (daripada 0.121 U/mg kepada 0.168 U/mg). Mutasi EMS seterusnya terhadap pencilan m4.3NC1 mutan yang ditetapkan sebagai m5.4NC meningkatkan aktiviti transesterifikasi daripada 0.168 U/mg kepada 2.048 U/mg (kenaikan 1119% berbanding jenis liar). Pengenalpastian molekul bagi pencilan NC mendedahkan 100% persamaan dengan strain Aspergillus fumigatus CMXY15837. Aktiviti enzim khusus tertinggi mutan NC diperhatikan pada pH 6 dan suhu 50 °C. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa mutasi terhadap mutan NC menggunakan UV diikuti oleh EMS telah meningkatkan aktiviti transesterifikasi dengan ketara.

Kata kunci: Etil metana sulfonat; kulat mutan NC; lipase; tindak balas transesterifikasi; ultralembayung

 

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*Corresponding author; email: tris001@brin.go.id