Alkaline Protease of a Genetically-Engineered Aspergillus oryzae for the Use as a Silver Recovery Agent from Used X-Ray Film

Aspergillus oryzae U1521, which was a genetically engineered strain, produced 1,000,600 U per g . glucose of extracellular alkaline protease within 72 h in a submerged fermentation. However, the alkaline protease was not detected during the first 24 h. Northern blot analysis indicated that the enzyme synthesis was repressed at the transcriptional level during the lag period. Both catabolite repression and pH of the growth medium significantly affected the enzyme production. Use of this enzyme as a silver recovery agent from used X-ray film was confirmed by experiments in the shake-flask scale.