Optimization of Fermentation Medium for Enhanced Glucansucrase and Glucan Production from Weissella confusa

a glucan producing weissella confusa isolated from fermented cabbage, as identified earlier, was used for optimization of its fermentation medium. the effects of various macronutrients such as sucrose, glucose as cosubstrate, yeast extract, beef extract, peptone, sodium acetate, k2hpo4 and tween 80 were studied on glucansucrase and glucan production from weissella confusa. the medium used as control gave 6.0 u/ml enzyme activity and 34 mg/ml glucan concentration. sucrose (5%), glucose as cosubstrate (5% for glucansucrase and 3% for glucan production), tween 80 (0.1%), yeast extract (1.5%), peptone (2.0%) and k2hpo4 (1.5%) were effective nutrients displaying higher glucansucrase and glucan production giving 18.2, 18.0, 7.0, 6.4, 6.2 and 6.4 u/ml enzyme activity and 103, 100, 46, 41, 39 and 37 mg/ml glucan concentration, respectively. sodium acetate and beef extract were not effective for enzyme and glucan production. the new strain weissella confusa can be used for commercial production of glucansucrase and glucan using optimized medium.