Optimization of Temperature and pH for Protease Production from Some Bacterial Isolates of Mangrove Waters

Protease enzymes are widely used in biotechnology to produce amino acids and peptides from high molecular substrates, as well as in the leather industry for wastewater treatment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, leather processing, and poultry industry. Indonesia's demand for protease enzymes is increasing. This study aims to optimize the temperature and pH for the production of protease from certain bacterial isolates of mangrove waters. The study examined growth profiles, enzyme activity, and the effects of temperature and pH on enzyme production. The research method used is experimental. Protease activity is carried out using the Takami method. The results showed that the protease activity of bacterial isolates PUA-10, PUA-12, PUA-14, and PUA-16 are optimum at 35°C. The optimum pH for protease production from the bacterial isolates PUA-10 and PUA-16 was at pH 7, while the bacterial isolates PUA-12 and PUA-14 are at pH 8. There is an increase in protease activity after optimization on the bacterial isolates PUA-10, PUA-12, PUA-14, and PUA-16 that amounted to 23.84; 17.90; 21.12; and 24.58%, respectively. The research can determine the optimum temperature and pH for each isolate and improve the efficiency of protease production from some bacterial isolates of mangrove waters.