Optimization of skate (Raja flavirostkis) cartilage hydrolysis for the preperation of chondroitin sulfate

Abstract

The aim of this study was to optimize the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of skate (Raja flavirostris) cartilage (SKC) for the preparation of chondroitin sulfate (CS) by a response surface methodology (RSM). Eleven different commercial proteases were screened for the preparation of CS. The results showed that Maxazyme NNP was the most efficient with respect to CS production (CS yield per enzyme cost). The optimal hydrolysis conditions determined by RSM were 1.65% and 3.45 hr for the enzyme concentration and hydrolysis time, respectively (R-2=0. 9870, P<0.01), and the highest yield of the hydrolysate was predicted to be 43.3%. The yield of the hydrolysate and its CS content under the optimal conditions (1.65% enzyme concentration and 3.45 hr hydrolysis time) were 44.0+/-2.2% and 31.7+/-0.2%, respectively. Therefore, there was good agreement between the statistical optimization of the enzymatic hydrolysis of SKC and the experimental data.