The enzymatic hydrolysis of lactose by beta-galactosidase plays an important role in the processing of milky products such as the production of lactose-hydrolyzed milk for consumption by intolerant person to lactose and the prevention of the crystallization in dairy products. In this work, the influences of nutrient concentrations in the culture medium based on cheese whey were studied with the objective of producing beta-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces marxianus. The fermentations were carried out in a shaker at 30°C and initial pH 5.5 under agitation, starting with an initial cellular concentration of 10(7) cells/mL, varying the initial concentrations of lactose and yeast extract. For extraction of the enzyme of the cells it was used autolysis with chloroform in potassium phosphate buffer. In the medium with a initial lactose concentration of 50g/L, supplemented with salts, yeast extract 12g/L, the enzymatic activity and cellular concentration were 28 UGl/mL and 5.3g/L respectively.
beta-galactosidase; Kluyveromyces marxianus; cheese whey; beta-galactosidase production
