SHILPA GAUTAM, VIRENDRA KUMAR PANDEY AND DEEPAK MISHRA
Abstract
Fungal proteases are valuable enzymes with significant industrial and biotechnological applications, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, and waste management. This study examines the biochemical profiles of Penicillium polonicum (PSC3) and Aspergillus niger (PSC5), focusing on their protein content, protease activity, and calcium concentration to understand factors affecting enzymatic efficiency. Results revealed that PSC5 had lower total protein content (4.45 mg/g) compared to PSC3 (8.87 mg/g) but exhibited higher protease activity (0.117 vs. 0.098), suggesting that PSC5âs enzymatic proteins are more efficient. Additionally, PSC5 showed higher calcium levels (128.6 mg/L) than PSC3 (114.5 mg/L), which correlated with the enhanced protease activity. The findings indicate that calcium may improve enzyme functionality by stabilizing its structure or acting as a cofactor. This study highlights the significance of enzyme quality over quantity and provides insights into optimizing protease activity in fungal systems.