Induction and characterization of phenol hydroxylase from Aspergillus niger

Enzymes are biocatalysts that enable reactions to take place under mild conditions and are found in all living cells. Since they can demonstrate their activities when appropriate conditions are met, it is possible to utilize enzymes in many areas outside of their natural environment. Although the enzymes obtained from plants and animals are of great importance, they can't be obtained in high quantities. Therefore, the use of microorganisms has gained importance to obtain enzymes. Factors such as low cost of fermentation media, short fermentation time, high rate of growth and high activity due to reproductive power have been factors in the selection of microorganisms in obtaining enzymes. Phenol hydroxylase (E.C. 1.14.13.7) is a NADPH-dependent flavin monooxygenase that catalyzes the hydroxylation of simple phenols to o-diol derivatives. It has an important place in the biodegradation of phenolic compounds, especially phenol. It is the first enzyme in the biodegradation pathway and at the same time acts as a speed limiter. In this study, induction and characterization of phenol hydroxylase enzyme from Aspergillus niger mold was aimed.