Identification of a lipolytic Trichoderma sp. and characterization of its extracellular lipase

Lipases are abundantly used in a wide range of industries. Currently, microbial lipases are the most popular source of industrial lipases, of which fungal lipases stand out due to their low cost of production, catalytic activity, and extracellular nature. The demand for lipases has kept researchers exploring new lipolytic fungi. However, the success of such studies lies in the optimization of the growth medium to maximize lipase secretion and the characterization of the enzyme to achieve its highest activity. Therefore, this research was undertaken to identify a lipolytic fungus that was isolated from soil, optimize its lipase secretion, and characterize it. Based on the results of the current study, the lipolytic fungus was identified as Trichoderma longibrachiatum. Its lipase secretion was maximal when it was cultured in a medium containing olive oil and ammonium sulfate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, at a pH of 7.0. Further, the Trichoderma lipase showed its highest activity at a pH of 6.0 and 40 °C. Moreover, preincubation of the lipase with Ca²⁺ increased its activity. The enzyme characterization revealed that the extracted Trichoderma lipase has industrially desirable properties. The research results showed that the lipolytic Trichoderma longibrachiatum could be focused on industrial applications.